I've always assumed anyone joining the military post-Vietnam was either dumb or desperate, because it's all about #capitalism, not #freedom.
#TedRall sums it up nicely:
https://rall.com/comic/to-the-troops
To the Troops

American troops deployed to places like Iran are frequently said to be defending “our way of life.” But who is this “our,” and whose way of life are they actually protecting?

Ted Rall's Rallblog