////Josepp, your understanding of the US military pay system is sadly lacking. I would explain it, but that would require a major thread drift. ////

No, you obviously can't explain it or you would. Military personnel PAY for their food, room and board. It is taken out of your check before your check is even issued to you. We also had a Navy Relief Fund so guys who had an emergency and had to go home but had no money to travel with could go to Navy Relief and receive that money. And where did that money come from? Civilian taxpayers? No. Navy personnel. It wasn't mandatory to pay in but most guys did. I did. I never used it but I figured it was possible that I might.

////As far as being mercenaries is concerned, suffice to say that military pay, especially at the lower ranks, is so low that soldiers and their families often qualify for public assistance.////

That too is utter bullshit. I lived quite comfortably on a sailor's pay. I even lived in a flat off the ship even though I still paid for my military housing and my military meals (which I never ate unless I had duty). It's not true that military personnel are well-paid and get everything for free and it's not true that they are effectively impoverished. The truth is, we are paid adequately if we live within our means just like everybody else. When I was offered a reenlistment package back in 1986, it came with a $20,000 enlistment bonus for signing on 3 more years with $10,000 given to me up front as soon as I signed and the rest paid to me in installments in my paycheck. I turned it down and took my discharge instead. I had enough money. No money, my ass.