My dad joined the marines because he couldn't afford college and was a newlywed who needed to provide for his wife. The military is manipulative and exploitative as hell.

For example, my dad's time at boot camp. His entrance scores qualified him to enter training at the rank of PFC, including the pay raise. He was on track to graduate from training as platoon guide, and his drill instructor had promised he would be recommended for promotion. Somewhere along the line, someone higher up realized that promotion would put my dad at the rank of Lance-corporal, one promotion from becoming a NOV (Non-commissioned officer). Another recruit was given a promotion at graduation, to PFC. They never gave a reason for it, but they probably just didn't want to pay him LCpl money, and risk him jumping another pay grade soon thereafter, plus the allotment for married members, right out of training.

My dad wasn't someone who knew to ask for promises in writing. He was a small town farm boy without political connections who wanted to support his new family. He is an a good man, a good leader, and extremely intelligent. But he didn't have the official papers saying "I went to school" of "you're giving me a promotion," so they took advantage. He says if they'd given him the recognition he deserved, he'd likely have been a career marine and gotten his degree to become a CO. They didn't, so he left honorably. Luckily, my mom had a job that could support us, barely, so he wasn't trapped.

Sadly, a lot of men and women in the service don't because of financial or social reasons and are treated poorly. The military feeds on those who don't have any other choice. It's reprehensible.