Veteran here. It's more like: "I'm a fucking idiot, but I could use some healthcare, and that college thing sounds nice."
Plan B was to kill myself, so I don't feel bad about enlisting - I got what I needed from it.
You'd be amazed how few people join because of cliches like patriotism. That said, it'd be way less fucked if people could get things like healthcare and education without needing to agree to blow themselves or others up.