In the episode "The Enlistment", both JJ and James lose their job, so JJ decide to join Army to support the family. But James talk him out of it.

That might have been a good move for JJ over the situation they were in. That would have been one less mouth to feed and cloths and JJ would have been better for it. JJ would become more disciplined while earning money. And after military service service, he would have all the benefits of being a veteran and use GI Bill to go to college.

Plus that would have his best chance to get out of ghetto and have a better future.

http://images-us-am.crackle.com/1/_/ml/qd7wb_tne.jpg?ts=20140408131450

Unless it is an arts college, going to school would have been a waste of time for JJ. But he could have gottne out of the ghetto and moved elsewhere.

Right, it would have been a good move for all those reasons.

He'd get a serious side, too. No more struttin' around and dynomites with a sgt.

James didnt believe he was Army material and felt he wouldnt make it

James didnt believe he was Army material and felt he wouldnt make it

There is an old saying that if you can survive the ghetto, you can survive anywhere :D