a score of 50 percent on an aptitude test
Eh? What's that? He's got half an aptitude?
I 'spose that explains his attitude.
As much as he seems to be playing the game where the "The Army screwed me for no good reason", all that comes through is that he is too stupid to be able to make a realistic decision. If his main concern was actually for his family's well being, he wouldn't have stuck them in a van and went on the run. What kind of future is that for a kid?
His real issue is that he is a big, stupid, self-centered deserter and he is too much of a coward to face up to it.