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They're even more rare in the military than in the general population. Firstly for the obvious reason - they don't need any of the benefits so they don't join.

by chiph 5y ago

They're even more rare in the military than in the general population. Firstly for the obvious reason - they don't need any of the benefits so they don't join. Secondly - someone that becomes that wealthy while serving (via a trust-fund, large inheritance, or winning the lottery) would no longer be a good fit for the military. They usually get offered an Honorable Discharge. However, if they still desire to serve the remainder of their term, they can place the money into a blind trust.

wolverine876 5y ago
> someone that becomes that wealthy while serving (via a trust-fund, large inheritance, or winning the lottery) would no longer be a good fit for the military. They usually get offered an Honorable Discharge. That's shocking. Where is this rule? Have you seen it happen? I didn't know wealth defined fitness for service.
- analognoise 5y ago
  Of course wealth defines fitness for service (in America, anyway). Isn't "money for college and healthcare" kinda obvious about it? Like there's almost a wink and a nudge at the end of it. It's super blatant that having very few economic options and no healthcare chooses fitness for service for you.
  - chrisseaton 5y ago
    In the UK it’s pretty common for wealthy upper-class people to do a few years in the Army before they take over the family business.
  - jwithington 5y ago
    The evidence is to the contrary--middle class and above are over-represented in the US military. "Their median family income is more than $73,000, compared with $66,000 for civilians, and recruits are most likely to come from families in the middle of the wealth distribution, with median wealth of $87,000, almost $10,000 more than civilians." This is for enlisted members. It's probably safe to have some intuition that officers will skew wealthier.
chrisseaton 5y ago
I just gave you an example of someone who was still in as a billionaire.

by chiph 5y ago

wolverine876 5y ago

> someone that becomes that wealthy while serving (via a trust-fund, large inheritance, or winning the lottery) would no longer be a good fit for the military. They usually get offered an Honorable Discharge. That's shocking. Where is this rule? Have you seen it happen? I didn't know wealth defined fitness for service.

analognoise 5y ago
Of course wealth defines fitness for service (in America, anyway). Isn't "money for college and healthcare" kinda obvious about it? Like there's almost a wink and a nudge at the end of it. It's super blatant that having very few economic options and no healthcare chooses fitness for service for you.
- chrisseaton 5y ago
  In the UK it’s pretty common for wealthy upper-class people to do a few years in the Army before they take over the family business.
- jwithington 5y ago
  The evidence is to the contrary--middle class and above are over-represented in the US military. "Their median family income is more than $73,000, compared with $66,000 for civilians, and recruits are most likely to come from families in the middle of the wealth distribution, with median wealth of $87,000, almost $10,000 more than civilians." This is for enlisted members. It's probably safe to have some intuition that officers will skew wealthier.

chrisseaton 5y ago

I just gave you an example of someone who was still in as a billionaire.