One more serious difference...in the US, we start with a free man or free woman with a history of being free. Don't ever underestimate the value of that!
"Don't ever underestimate the value of that!"
Never. One of the big hurdles will be training recruits to use personal initiative and decision-making skills during combat. If they can get over that hurdle, the bad-guys will be finished. If they can't, the insurgents who can will always outfight them.