Over 30% of us are ex military. We are more than in touch with having a "real" job. We exceeded that in the military
The military isn't a normal job by any means and that's what was meant by "real job" and I think you know that and are playing dumb.
As for the military, you never negotiated for a salary. You got 30 days of vacation a year. You had free healthcare. You couldn't be fired on a whim just because your boss disliked you.
That shows me you're out of touch.