Most of the answers here are wrong
We live in an era where patriotism is just about as dead as a door nail. Liberals hate this country or many things about it. So do conservatives.
People don't really join the military to protect America anymore. That's gone. Most people join the military as an escape to get out of bad circumstances, or to get free shit, or whatever. Or even because they're bored. It's rare that somebody actually signs up to serve America because the "American dream" is dead.
Most people in the military are completely aware that the military is not protecting America, but joined out of desperation or because they had nothing better to do. The reason that someone would join if they already have a family is pretty much the same, with the added bonus of the military supporting dependents.
The military doesn't really exist on a fringe and everyone's viewpoint in the military isn't united. European militaries are starkly different by being largely right wing because the military path in, say, spain, is not pushed to everyone like in america. America's isn't monolithic at all. It appeals to the widest demographic possible purposefully and thus the US military is a microcosm of American society and attitudes. Americans are apathetic towards patriotism at large. Thus, so is the military.
We live in an era where patriotism is just about as dead as a door nail. Liberals hate this country or many things about it. So do conservatives.
People don't really join the military to protect America anymore. That's gone. Most people join the military as an escape to get out of bad circumstances, or to get free shit, or whatever. Or even because they're bored. It's rare that somebody actually signs up to serve America because the "American dream" is dead.
Most people in the military are completely aware that the military is not protecting America, but joined out of desperation or because they had nothing better to do. The reason that someone would join if they already have a family is pretty much the same, with the added bonus of the military supporting dependents.
The military doesn't really exist on a fringe and everyone's viewpoint in the military isn't united. European militaries are starkly different by being largely right wing because the military path in, say, spain, is not pushed to everyone like in america. America's isn't monolithic at all. It appeals to the widest demographic possible purposefully and thus the US military is a microcosm of American society and attitudes. Americans are apathetic towards patriotism at large. Thus, so is the military.
a lotta dudes are roped into dying for israel because they think they're fighting for their country when in reality they're just fighting for Shlomo's bank-wars
>So why married men choose to join the army instead of enjoying life?
Married men do not sign up for the meatgrinder, young bachelors do.
esp knowing how likely it is to be cheated while on duty
Why does X do Y? Because:
Reason 1: 0.6
Reason 2: 0.4
Reason 3: 0.2
Reason 4: 0.05
Sounds quite algorithmic, right? Add to that the fact that another factor can be something like daily variance, a mood, a moment of reflection, or even "randomness" to make that choice, which may be an alternate to other options or the status quo.
So why do people go to the military? A sense of patriotism, doing the right thing, the concept of self-sacrifice for the country, honor, money, because their status quo sucks, and because it can provide options for the future (or at least the idea that it could).