This is a myth. The income background broadly mirrors America - however, troops from urban families are underrepresented. It’s mostly suburbs/rural. Recruits largely come from middle class/upper middle class backgrounds https://twitter.com/loloverruled/status/1314591708181561344

That said, the military is (for lack of better phrasing) the “easiest” and fastest way to escape poverty. I got the GI Bill and was first in my family to go to school and otherwise would probably be not be doing a whole bunch with my life.

Should I have had to go into combat for journalism school? Probably not - but that’s the system unfortunately since I didn’t want loans.

I also wanted to be in the military regardless - people enlist because they want the job and/or despite the nice family background they don’t know what else to do with their lives. But they are not forced by the system.