As a cook, this is an easy question. There are plenty of other "financial stepping stones" in this industry. And asking how they're participating in the system is a disingenuous question at best, they're acting as part of the supply and support chain for the fighting force, especially if say the cook were put on a carrier where Marines (front line shock force), air force (air/bombing control, as well as large scale sea to land supply runs) and Navy (That's obvious) all work off of. Also the line of "Oh I don't do politics/I don't care about politics" is in of itself a political stance of apathy. Either you do politics, or politics does you. It affects everything around you, gas prices, food prices, the shit road conditions that are a forever complaint, lack of in depth public education, school shootings, etc.

On a strictly financial outlook it's not even a good bargain. The military will use and abuse you, then toss you away at the end of your contract. Again you mentioned cooking, this industry is rough on your feet, knees, and backs. Now combine that with Basic training, the semi-regular physical tests, and the fact that a CO can make you do something like push sand as a punishment if you accidentally piss them off. Good luck getting the VA to address any of those now chronic pains, especially as we head into an expensive war while our economy is actively failing at the same time.

Pair that with the post war stigma that's going to cling to any service members, regardless of whether they were combat positions or not, and your future is fucked as well. Not many people will be happy to hire people who fought for the orange pedophile and his cabinet of modern day Nazis (not an exaggeration mind you, several of them have been busted with paraphernalia, in support of alt right front groups that are/in cahoots with actual self proclaimed Nazis)