When America calls you a hero, that means you are doing a difficult or dangerous job and being underpaid for it. America has a volunteer army, with no drafts since the Vietnam war our freedom and democracy have not been under serious threat for nearly 30 years. America also spends more on military than most of the world combined. So you would assume that means that soldiers and veterans are well paid and supported right? Nope, Veteran affairs is broke, and the wages soldiers send home are on par with maintenance workers and general repair workers. You go and risk you life in a far off country to protect the interests of America, and instead of compensation, they call you a hero. that inspires other people to do their low paying high risk job, and the cycle repeats.

Soldiers are actually compensated pretty well. People always look at the base pay when saying Soldiers get paid fuck all, but forget that the army gives you free housing, clothing allowance, food allowance, cost of living allowance if you live in an expensive state or country, free utilities, free health insurance, dental, tuition assistance while you're in the army for taking online classes, and the GI Bill once you get out. This in addition to on-base grocery stores and shopping centers that are both tax free.