A common thread runs thru society regarding military types, both active & former....
- Special privileges, eg, discounts, free stuff, priority boarding planes.
- Being called "hero".
- Honorary license plates.
- Commercials advertising enlistment, glorifying combat & elite status.
- A thread here proposing that only veterans can vote.
- Denigration of "draft dodgers".
I picked <same status>.
Over here in the UK-
...
Sorry, is it "Britainistan"? Let's go with that.
Over here in Britainistan, we have a very different general attitude and culture regarding soldiers than America seems to have. They have certain benefits, but most of these benefits aren't too far removed from any other employee of the public sector. We have the odd ceremony now and then to remember the fallen and people who sacrificed in war, but I still feel there is a significant difference in how the public at large treats active soldiers and veterans. They tend to be lionized a lot less. Not so much "heroes", but more "tough people who are useful".
Most advertising for army recruitment over here emphasizes the idea of joining the army for the sake of personal growth and exploration rather than honour, service or glorifying violence. Every advert is more-or-less the same:
"I was born in a small town, finished school, had a choice to either get a job in a chip shop or join the army, so I joined the army, now I'm tough and experienced and it taught me stuff." JOIN NOW.
In my experience, when someone over here tells you they were in the army, the psychological reaction is less "Wow, what can I do for you?" and more "I see, you must have failed at school, then" or "Oh. Please don't kill me." Of course, these are horrible generalizations, but it's still interesting to compare that kind of attitude to the American one. Even I, as a British-....
Britainistanian person, feel an almost Pavlovian response to US military personal that puts them in a heroic light. The US military must have some seriously good PR people.
Of course, none of this is to say soldiers in this country are any less worthy people. A friend of mine who was a burlesque dancer said the nicest, kindest and least hand-grabby private party she danced at was for soldiers (the worst - a bunch of businessmen. Big surprise). But it's really interesting, the difference in perception, reaction and depiction of soldiers from two different ends of the Atlantic.