Mormoms spend a year or two in foreigh missionary work, so perhaps those two years are looked on in a similar way that others may look on Peace Corps or Americorps or other volunteer work, that is not military.
Did you serve during the Clinton years? I wonder what the enlistment rate was then.
My service spanned 6 presidents, ending with GW.
The Mormons I knew in the military had also done their missionary tours. They don’t view that as a replacement for national service.
And they shouldn’t.
Nor is Peace Corps nor Americorps a replacement for national service.....that’s a liberal fantasy.