Good point. To say explicitly that he "didn't join for patriotism" is to seriously question his motives. The purpose of the military isn't to subsidize education, despite what the liberals would have us believe.
Unfortunately some kids believe the Guard is there to subsidize their education and are finding out the hard way that isn't true. Both my kids have heard kids complaining that their units have been called up and it is not fair. Some of these same kids were bragging earlier that they wouldn't owe a dime when they got out of college. Their only reason for joining the Guard was a free education -- know several myself.