Actually it was the populace as well. The military never really occupied a position of respect in this country until the 20th century. It was viewed throughout the 1800s as a refuge for drunkards, unemployable dullards, and foreigners looking to learn English. Officers were respected to a degree, but that was usually based on Volunteer service during either the Mexican War or the Civil War and not Regular service. It's easy to get sucked into the fiscal debates, but aside from Thomas Nast there were few actual "soldier-boosters" around during the latter part of the 1800s...and those who were typically wanted to make some green off the boys in blue.
I would also question the long-term impact of citizen-soldiers who step into leadership positions after their term expired. Historically some of the biggest opponents to a standing force, and indeed good training and equipment for that force, were those same volunteers/draftees who later rose to political prominence. And if you think the officer corps is political now, you should look back through some of the stuff they were writing in the 1880s or so.
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