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Not to kill the patriotic mood you set...but it has been my experience that most soldiers are uniformed about what entitlements they have. The military offers a lot of support to deployed soldiers. They get extra pay, extra leave, they are allowed two weeks R&R on any tour over 6 months (well- there are tweaks to this rule because it is "non-combat").
Soldiers are aware of the risks and DO go voluntarily but that doesn't mean they are aware that there are things available to them no matter where they are if deployed. They can even get leave if a immediate family member has a wedding and sometimes a baby (not always again depends on what unit and what mission they are on). Often they don't ask, and don't know. My cousin assumed he would have to pay from Baltimore for his home town...not only did he not but the stewardess upgraded him to first class simply because he was a soldier.
Anyway, my point is...yes they are not *poor* soldiers but like any large anything- things get lost in the shuffle and so do a lot of their entitlements. My father has had to demand things because the army forgot....or his boss didn't THINK they were permitted when in reality you just had to do some research.
Just my two cents...
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