I know people who will vociferously defend their own innocence in relation to the crimes of the country we live in, using precisely those terms. I've had local organizers insist to me that someones active membership in the military isn't a big deal because they needed the money and they're out as soon as the contract is up.

I've heard the excuses for joining straight out the mouth of someone right after talking about the third expensive rifle they bought with their national guard paycheck, and before dismissing queer comrade's concern over holding an event where the local fascists will find out their names.

I've known people born in a hole who used the military to get out, and I've known people born in a hole who manage to keep on living despite it. I trust one of those groups way more to be a good comrade.

I get wanting to defend your friends, and it's great you know some good people who made it out, but that's not universal, and the poverty draft is absolutely used as an excuse by vets in left organizing to avoid confronting certain things.