I looked at the 2021 military pay scale and starting at E-1, they get 1700/month. Figure after 2 years or so, you are an E-3 and the base pay is about 2200 / month. Divide that by 176 hours /month (average civilian hours) and they are making about 12.50 / hr. Now when you figure in food and housing allowances, medical, and such, the E-3 is doing much better. Plus there's so much potential to keep going up the ladder. You're not climbing the ladder flipping burgers (normally). Minimum wage should probably be set by the state and maybe even tuned down to locality, but not nationwide.