Wanting to belong just shortcuts people's brains. Absolute boomer logic. I too would love to just be a cog in the machine. I love the idea of all working together to settle Mars, Expanse style, except the way I'd do it would be to bring back Soviet style communism (Red Planet huehuehuehue).

Difference is, I still actually don't want to society to suck and be shit, and for these 20 something boomers, they just don't give a fuck. They love slavery so long as it is part of their identity. Imperialism is fine, because it is people who look like me who are doing it. Even though it is Coca Cola and Nestle and the oil companies that are the ones who reap the benefits.

Same thing with organised religion. People literally could not give a fuck if it makes sense, or if it makes their lives worse, or if it used as a cudgel to bludgeon the poor unfortunates that fall outside the pre-defined good group. They don't care if it serves archaic power structures, and even do not give a fuck when it is arbitrarily used against them. They just pick an identity (or more accurately have one randomly assigned to them by the circumstances of their birth), and then they go with it. Pure vibes.

So yeah not in the least bit surprised that the army brought these people "back into the fold"