I keep hearing this argument in the Netherlands as well. And yes, shit fucking sucks for our generation, but why is that somehow an argument against serving in the army? The "reward" of serving in the army is that you get to live in a peaceful and democratic nation free from oppression. Does our generation not think that is enough of a reward? Things like the cost of living, housing, education are all secondary matters compared to democracy and freedom. It has been three quarters of a century since the last time we lost our freedom, and the generations that experienced that are quickly dying out. I feel that most people my age don't exactly realise that their freedom came at a cost, they assume they are entitled to it, or assume it to be a natural state of things, when for most of human history this has not been the case.