>who during their "careers" in the military were in effect being "kept", by being provided housing, clothing and free meals.

Long term I can see this happen for all humanity where AI takes over thinking and governance and humans just get to play pretend in their echo chambers. Might not even be a downgrade for current society.

    All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace (Richard Brautigan)

    I like to think (and
    the sooner the better!)
    of a cybernetic meadow
    where mammals and computers
    live together in mutually
    programming harmony
    like pure water
    touching clear sky.

    I like to think
    (right now, please!)
    of a cybernetic forest
    filled with pines and electronics
    where deer stroll peacefully
    past computers
    as if they were flowers
    with spinning blossoms.

    I like to think
    (it has to be!)
    of a cybernetic ecology
    where we are free of our labors
    and joined back to nature,
    returned to our mammal
    brothers and sisters,
    and all watched over
    by machines of loving grace.

This is the utopia of the Culture from the Banks novels. Critically, it requires that the AI be of superior ethics.