You're hung up on these expectations of what the military should do for the "average citizen" because you as an American citizen pay their salaries.
Has the military, in general, EVER let the American people down?
No, they work for peanuts and improvise when they don't have the gear it takes to do the job, but they're always out there protecting your ass the best they can with what they have.
You don't have to tell a Marine that you "expect" him to die for his country. He accepted that when he put on the uniform.
Your "expectations" simply cheapens his sacrifice.
Absolutely not. I'm trying to focus your attention on the REAL job at hand, which is NOT to prove which branch of service is "better" or "tougher" or "more highly-trained", but rather to protect and defend this nation and its Consitution.
The reason I bring up the thing about the folks that pay the salaries (and not incidentally, occasionally provide their sons and daughters for the effort) is that THEY are the ones you're defending. This is a unique country with a unique military service that is subservient to the civilian populace.
The families, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, wives, children, etc., are and should be the reason they're out there. Now that things have turned quite serious, it is time to suspend fun and games, and get very clear who the enemy is.