Our All-Volunteer Military Is More Educated, From A Higher Income Community, Not From A Disadvantaged Background And Not Overrepresented By Minorities

From The Heritage Foundation, "Who Serves in the U.S. Military? The Demographics of Enlisted Troops and Officers" by Shanea Watkins, Ph.D. and James Sherk:

Who serves in the active-duty ranks of the U.S. all-volunteer military? Conventional wisdom holds that military service disproportionately attracts minorities and men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many believe that troops enlist because they have few options, not because they want to serve their country. Others believe that the war in Iraq has forced the military to lower its recruiting standards.***

1. U.S. military service disproportionately attracts enlisted personnel and officers who do not come from disadvantaged backgrounds....
   
   
2. Members of the all-volunteer military are significantly more likely to come from high-income neighborhoods than from low-income neighborhoods....
   
   
3. American soldiers are more educated than their peers....
   
   
4. Contrary to conventional wisdom, minorities are not overrepresented in military service....

[HT: Al Roth, Market Design]