This actually isnât bad at all!! An E-1 in the military makes $2,319/month ($27,828/annually), with your life literally signed over to the U.S. government. Doesnât sound like much, but⊠Anyone who has ever been Enlisted will tell you that because your meals are paid for, and your room/board is paid for, youâre free to spend all $2,319 on random wants instead of needs. For a college student, this isnât the greatest deal on the world, but it certainly isnât a bad deal.