<p>According to wiki, this is what Sen Metzenbaum did in the '40s. </p>
<p>“During the 1940s, he practiced law in Cleveland, mostly for large labor unions, first the Communications Workers of America and then the International Association of Machinists.”</p>
<p>He worked for the people who made the tools that our armed forces used to win the war. We would not be free without our armed forces. But if we only had our armed forces, and not our lawyers, journalists, and, yes, politicians and community activists, we would not be free either. Look at China - they have a valiant and competent military, AFAIK. Yet they are not free. </p>
<p>This does not answer the OP, but I felt a need to set the record straight.</p>
<p>I agree ROTC does not sound like the right choice for the OP. OTOH I am not sure financial reasons should be ruled out for everyong considering a military option. Some of the best soldiers in our history were conscripts, who for the most part did not join out of a desire to be a soldier.</p>