The point I'm trying to make is that the military shouldn't be the only option help people out of poverty. The military seems to destroy as many lives as it helps, and we need to have an honest discussion about our values as a society.

I like your peace corp example. After 9/11 I moved to Peru and spend my time teaching. Like you, I was on my own with no backup and it was up to me to learn the culture rather than impose my will on it. More kids need to have experiences like that.