With the total volume of student debt in the US approaching the historic $2 trillion mark, a growing movement is being observed at military enlistment offices. The number of new recruits has surged over the past two years, a phenomenon associated not only with President Donald Trump's military-nationalist rhetoric, but mainly with the benefits offered by the US Armed Forces.
According to estimates from the Education Data Initiative, a group dedicated to researching the state of American higher education, half of university students needed state money to finance their studies. Altogether, 43 million Americans carry some type of student debt, creating an economic scenario that pushes many young people to consider military service as a viable alternative.
The phrase "When the economy is bad, the Army is a great option" summarizes the reasoning behind this increase in enlistments. The military benefits, which include payment for university studies, healthcare, and financial stability, become especially attractive to young people facing the prospect of decades paying off educational debts.
