I do realize the pandemic restrictions won't last forever, but how long will they last? It's coming up on 3 years so far. 5 years? 10? Abusers always think the abuse they inflict on others builds character. In reality, it just builds psychological wounds that don't heal, which is why the military has such a disproportionately high suicide rate. That got dark fast, and I'm sorry. However, the pension is not worth it if you 20 years hating what you do. Some people spend 20 years enjoying their jobs and lives. Honestly though, it's the military types who love it that truly make me worry about who's walking among us free in society. Navy port visits aren't all fun and games though TBH. Ever watch that reality Navy TV show "Carrier"? The whole show in YouTube. It was all fun and games till people got hurt. Look it up.
You've obviously got some deep-seated issues with the service and I'm guessing it's probably tied to an overbearing, abusive military father-figure type in your life or friends/siblings who came home from deployment all fucked up but you're really painting with too wide a brush. Now, I'm not singing the praises of military life as a whole, nor am I trying to say it's the greatest life choice a person could make. In my past line of work (political operations) I've worked with many, many retired military types who try making the jump into politics--be they senior NCOs or colonels or even general officers--and my experience has generally been that they're utterly fucking useless and incapable of adapting to the way we operate in politics. At best, they try to incorporate an obtuse, ignorant and cookie-cutter type approach to a very dynamic and fluid profession, and at worst they create an atmosphere so caustic and nerve-racking that I lose most of the younger staffers due to unnecessary stress at the office. That's the reason I won't have retired military types in actual leadership positions in campaigns I run. They almost inevitably fuck everything up.
That said, you simply cannot discount or disqualify the potential benefits of service, particularly to kids with troubled backgrounds and perceived lack of opportunity in life. I can't even count the number of times I've seen kids I grew up with, royal fuck-ups headed toward guaranteed imprisonment (or death) completely un-fuck themselves by enlisting and coming home completely different and adjusted individuals a few years later. Sure, some come back completely fucking deranged after deployment and yeah, there are definitely a disproportionate number of suicides, but that's an entirely different story and due to a failure of support by our federal government and VA.
Bottom line, military service offers an opportunity for young folks, regardless of where they come from or how much money their folks had or even how bright they are, to be involved with something meaningful, see the world, tap asses on multiple continents and end up with some very pleasant lifelong benefits and perks if they choose the long haul. It's not for everyone, certainly wasn't for me, but it gives a lot of kids opportunities they would otherwise not have. And thank you, by the way, for making me sound like a jagoff recruiter. I'll go back to Pornhub now.