First of all get your facts straight. For instance Tanks are not "coated" with toxic materials.
Second of all getting lied to depends on if you have a bad recruiter and when it comes down to it you need to do the research for yourself to find out if the military is right or not for you. Just like in the civilian world you are the only person looking out for your personal interests.
Third of all not every person joins for the soul purpose of college money. Most enlistees know that they will probably not get full benefits if they aren't an alpha ASVAB test scorer and/or they have black marks on their records.
Fourth of all the military is a reflection of society (almost proportionately too), so if you have discrimination it is because there is discrimination in American society.
Fifth of all the military is not a "dead-end" career even in the case of enlisted men. Many of the Marines and soldiers that retire become the local and state police men that protect you every day. For instance I know a GySgt USMC who is retiring in two years and already has a county sheriff job lined up. After a twenty year career in the Marines (03xx, infantry, by the way) he'll be only 38 and will be drawing half his annual pay ($25039.80)for the rest of his life. Not to mention he'll probably be promoted to E-8 before he retires. That's not a dead end at all.
As for targeting minorities? EVERYBODY is targeting minorities. This is because of dumb leftist programs that say they (various institutions) should for government benefits. This is in and of itself is inherently racist because it recognizes a social different in racial or national heritage. Really if you wanted to implement a program like that target a FINANCIAL demographic not a racial one.
One more thought in race is that statistically minorities are in a lower financial demographic and that happens to be the demographic most likely to ENLIST in the military.
You say the balance of white to black is off in commissioned ranks? Hardly. Most commissioned officers do not go to a military academy (west point etc.) They go to colleges under their own financial aid and sign up for programs like ROTC (of all branches with or without tuition assistance), PLC and some times just join up for OCS after the graduate and many even come from the enlisted ranks. Now is it just me or are most college graduates White? and it is just me or are most successful business men black or white? i'm no racist and i am in fact puerto rican. It is just statistically so. Take in to consideration the effect of the liberal and civilian media too. They glorify crime, drugs and hedonistic behaviors. One who indulges in those things over responsibility does not deserve to be successful and the minority demographic is more susceptible to being influenced by the media.
Finally ask Marines if they joined for the college money and most will say no. They want to see action and chances are they will see action.
The military is not for everybody this is true. I'm not going to encourage a pot smoking hippie to join up any more then i would encourage a strong hearted republican red-neck to stand down if that's what he wanted to do. However the last thing that American troops need are people in America denouncing their decision as wrong, foolhardy and immoral. They are providing a great service to everyone in this nation and although you may not agree with the particular conflict we are engaged in now there will come a time when we absolutely need 18, 19, or twenty year olds, who selflessly risk life and limb to uphold the oath they took in front of an officer to protect the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. And when it comes down to it those kids are going to kill, die, be maimed, come back emotionally scarred or in prime shape from wars/conflicts they might not support but they do it anyway. And to be honest any American who denounces their choice to join is in my eyes a domestic enemy. One who undermines a youth's (hopefully) noble intentions and denounces their sacrifice. And remember the Military is a reflection of society.
