I feel your answer lacks any sort of nuance. People join the military for financial reasons as well. Broke as fuck and need somewhere to stay, get food and possibly get an education or career? Military. Almost doesn't matter your background, you can probably get in and stay as much as you like. The US system makes the military a good back up option for the poor. I don't like how the US uses our military, but i also understand that those in there aren't necessarily happy with their options either. If there existed a alternative system like the military (work, pay, food, housing, education, career), people would probably join that over risking dying or having to kill people.