> it's become something that we send disenfranchised young soldiers from poorer economic backgrounds to

I know this is an article of faith in some political circles. Promising poor kids money for killing Those Other People is the only way military service makes sense.

Just FYI, this isn't actually true. US military recruits are more likely to be from the three middle quintiles than the first or fifth. Data here: https://www.cfr.org/article/demographics-us-military