What social class is the military?

With very little fanfare, military service became one of the last bastions of middle class social mobility. An April 2018 demographic analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations indicated that the modern military draws heavily from middle-class families.

Is going to the Marines worth it?

The benefits of joining the Marines are worth considering, even if you won’t be earning much during your first days of enlistment. All members are entitled to receive free medical and dental care as part of their service. There is an option to include your family for a nominal fee as well.

Can a parent force their kid into the military?

Yes, parents can force minor children to attend military school. In the U.S., most states require children between the ages of 6 and 16 to receive formal education. However, caring parents will take steps to make sure that their child receives the best possible education for his personal needs, skills and talents.

Are military recruits from lower class neighborhoods more likely to join?

Even a quick glance at data of the military’s demographics should be enough to cast doubt on this perception. According to a 2008 study by the Heritage Foundation, enlisted recruits in 2006 and 2007 were actually more likely to come from middle or upper class neighborhoods than from lower class ones.

Do Americans join the military because they have no options?

Ever since the U.S. military became an all-volunteer force, a preconception has existed among many Americans that those who choose to join the armed services do so because they have no other options. That is the hypothethis of two studies released this year.

Is the public becoming less interested in military service?

There have been other times that the public had been less interested in military service. Enlistments have gone up and down with the economy, or when lots of soldiers are dying – such as during the darkest days of the Iraq war.

Why are so many young Americans enlisted in the military?

This is due in part to the fact that many young men and women serve in the military as a means of paying for college later in life. But it must be said that these young Americans (defined as 25 years old or younger) make up less than half of enlisted members.