Financial set up is a key aspect of military recruitment – means post-plan recruitment most likely declines

[Michael Springer-Gould, MSc Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science, specializing in immigrant/refugee rights, wartime humanitarian intervention and military analysis. Former Pitzer College graduate with a BA in Human Rights Analysis, Sociology and Spanish] 2020, [“The Weaponization of Poverty: An Investigation Into United States Military Recruitment Practices In High Schools Of Low-Income Communities In The Inland Empire”, Pitzer Senior Theses Issue 110, Pg 18], https://.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1117&context=pitzer_theses - JR

However, taking a step back from the glamorous appeals of Hollywood and technology, another critical aspect of the military’s public image is the idea of what benefits individuals would receive should they choose to enlist. In previous discussions of the JROTC, the instilment of valuable skills such as leadership and a strong work ethic were touched upon as potential motivating factors for students to join the program. Additionally, “defenders of the JROTC… claim that the goal is leadership and citizen development, drop-out prevention, or simply the fun of dressing up and parading around” 48 . It appears that the military is heavily reliant on recruits seeing service as an opportunity to become a “better version” of themselves while enjoying their lives in the process. Bettering oneself in the military, according to Marshall and Brown (2004), is best achieved through the benefits it pitches such as “financial rewards, social prestige [and] job training…” 49 . In exchange, all the military asks is “a commitment of an extended period of time, conformity to a structured lifestyle and obedience to a formal command structure”50 . Military service is essentially presented as a low-risk and highly structured program to help one grow as a person through the acquisition of socio-economic assets to which they i may have not otherwise had the opportunity to access.