(speaking here as a 21-year retiree from the AF)
Anybody who doesn't understand that life in today's military is dangerous probably doesn't have the mental aptitude to be in the military. Sure, the kids should go be candy-stripers at a VA hospital. A better choice would be to volunteer to be a candy-striper at a military hospital...
Pauline Esther Friedman (aka Abigail Van Buren) is long known as a left-wing harpy who spews APA-approved psychobabble. This is very consistent with her social-liberal agenda that she's preached for decades.
But I disasgree with you, ContraryMary, military people have long been props to the left-wingers in this country. Just ask anybody who was on active duty during the KKKlinton era...those socialists had to pass down orders to military people to show up for their media events..."rent-a-crowds" showing how much the military just LOOVVVEEEDDD them(/sarc).
That is true. Maybe I should have said that our military SHOULDN'T be props.