There are a lot of bases in the South, but I disagree with your theory that this causes more kids to show an interest in the military. Early in our country's history, the North had a strong military culture. However, that has clearly changed. During Vietnam, I attending a major state University in the South. When the Kent State shooting caused demonstrations by the thousands in California and Northeast, at my University, about a hundred freaks tried to take over the admin building. There were about a thousand guys that wanted to throw the freaks out on their butts, but the campus cops protected them.