First of all, a mercenary is a person who fights for money for any flag. The people who are fighting in our Army are patriots fighting for their flag. So while they're compensated the same way draftees are compensated, they're not mercenaries.
As usual, Eleanor’s response to this direct refutation of her pinheaded point was sucking her teeth and sniffing.
I'm surprised she didn't shoot back asking Tony's appraisal of the pirates of the US Navy.