Hilary... there is a difference. Part of it is the huge swing in perception and attention level. When whoever is living at 1600 Pennsylvania has a big troop movement afoot they always make a big show of going to the least attractive place they can think of and carving a turkey with the soldiers (with of course the entire press corps in tow!) Letters of support and kindness pour out from churches and schools across the nation, soldiers are regularly featured in their hometown papers, etc, etc... and then, a few short months later, they are almost totally forgotten. They never asked for the attention, the press, the Pres, etc.... but once it has been given the sudden absence of it is disheartening. Like somehow the guy who sat your post LAST Thanksgiving and was getting shot at was making a greater sacrafice or was, in some intangible way, more valuable than you... sitting the same post, getting shot at just the same.
And yes, it is an all volunteer military at this time.. but the recruiters have honeyed tongues and most of them (the Marines being a usual exception) do their very best to sell a stint in the military (including the reserves... hell, especially the reserves!) as a combo character building exercise/ scholarship program. Should the recruiters be more forthcoming? Sure. Should recruits be more savvy, more clear eyed about what they are agreeing to? Sure. Does the 'volunteer military' survive by taking advantage of the bottom levels of society and those who have little or no opportunity for advancement without agreeing to be cannon fodder for the Beltway chickenhawks? You bet your ass it does.
