[VeniVidiVici]

As for the 18 year old fresh out of boot camp, he's an E-2 making around $18,000 per year with his food, housing, and medical taken care of. What entry level civilian job is going to do better than that?

Cops. Firemen. And surely our military should be paid better than first responders.

If nothing else enlisted pay should be tax free.

[Non-Sequitur]

Cops. Firemen. And surely our military should be paid better than first responders.

A rookie police officer for Kansas City makes about $1300 more, has to be 21 and is usually a college graduate, and pays for housing, insurance, and food. Taken into consideration an E-2 isn't that badly paid at all.