I know what happened in Costa Rica in 1948 the people were about through with the government they had then and some people decided enough was enough a civil war ensued, one of the leaders was Pepe Figueres, after winning they came to the decision that they didn't need an army and they just abolished the dumb thing, and used the money for health and education. Can you not see that the armies of the world regardless of where they are from are just in it for the benefit of the top commanders? See if they were really there to back people they would do that but in reality they back whoever is more economically convenient for them. Cases in point Honduras and Venezuela, here you can see that patriotism, love of country, discipline honor has nothing at all to do with their actions, they were just bought, thinking it through this is about what happens everywhere.
By the way did you ever hear about Eisenhower and the military-industrial complex? I tend to believe it exists to the detriment of everyone else.