Everybody joins for a different reason, rather it be for college money, career opportunities, or whatever. For me I needed some direction in life and didn't want to end up working at the local factory. Why go to college when you don't know what you want to do. The recruiter does glamorize it, and most 18 year old boys didn't know any better. I was taken in by getting out of a small town and jumping out of planes for a living. I'd get an opportunity to go to ranger school and a shot at flight school for my 2nd enlistment. Once you get to your duty station you quickly grow out of it.