>
>There are more rational motivations.  Have some imagination.
>
>1) You got drafted.  [seems to happen 100% of the time to Israeli 
>citizens of the right age....]
>     17th century England variant: You have been impressed [into the 
>army, not by someone with phenomenal charisma, appearance, or 
>ability.]
>
>2) You are about to starve to death from lack of a job, or suffer 
>equally 
>dismal career wipeout.  Since the transmutation of the US into a 
>welfare 
>state, this is less of a motivation in the US.
Massive consumer dept combined with water-treading jobs that offered no
hope of escaping the debt cycle drove one intelligent and creative friend
of mine into the Airforce.
Take care. -KMO