[PhasmaFelis]

One thing that comes up a lot in these discussions: a lot of people (not saying this is you) got the impression that the society in the novel requires military service to gain citizenship. It's worth mentioning that the novel is pretty specific that the condition of citizenship is service, period: you have to be willing to sacrifice a few years of your life in service to your nation, and they will find something for anyone willing to serve, no matter what disabilities they may have. The protagonist only chooses the military because he doesn't have any aptitudes to speak of beyond "reasonably physically fit."