Tiffany,
What I said, or meant to say, that if someone wanted to excel at something (like being a fighter pilot or shooting someone in the head from 400 yards away) then the military would be a place to do such a thing. The best flyers in the world are in the military so if a guy wanted to excel at such a thing, the Navy or Air Force would be the place. As for target practice with a rifle, the NRA marksmen are probably a big step up from military snipers in shooting proficiency.
Yes, 200 people to support one wasteful fly guy. I am fully aware of all the fraud, waste and abuse in the military in addition to the moral repulsiveness. From a purely material point of view, the military is a very nice deal - good pay, little real responsibility, great benefits and a great retirement plan.