Imagine for a moment that you are a dumbass 17 year-old high school senior in 2002. Your grades are shit and you're just barely going to graduate. Many of your friends are excited about going to college, while you are pretty sure that working behind the counter at the local gas station is basically all you've got.

Suddenly, a wild recruiter appears! He has a cool looking uniform and people say "Thank you for your service" and he gets treated with respect wherever he goes. He says he's got a $30k signing bonus for you. He says you can choose whatever job you want, you don't have to go get shot at. He says in 4 years when you get out, you'll have skills and experience those college pussies won't, you'll get a good job and they'll bitch on the internet about working at Starbucks. He says you can even go to college if you want, Uncle Sam will pick up the tab and you can spend 4 years getting drunk and laid.

Would you go, as this dipshit 17 year-old?