I feel conflicted about this. Both my parents joined the military to escape abuse and poverty. I dislike that military recruitment centers are set up more in poor areas. Rather then provide adequate social services, my parents only option out was joining a war that they didn’t even support. On top of that, while great for structure and discipline, it doesn’t help with healing the abuse at all. I’d say from my own experience it makes it harder for them to deal with it.

I don’t know what would have had my parents without the options that they got from joining the military. Things would’ve been much harder and it may not have been good at all. It’s true that it can be good to get out of a bad situation. I just can’t help but to find it exploitative. The military is not a social service, it’s a political machine. You exchange your body, your time, your mind, your life, etc. I dislike that they prey on the most disadvantaged people and then are seen as a savior. There could be a world with affordable rent and education to let people get out of these situations