In Finland its mandatory for 18 yrs old and Finnish people are very patriotic. Serving the army is treated as good experience and not a lot of people fake having illness or disability to avoid drafting. Even lot of women choose to serve by choice. You can often see soldiers in vacation at public malls, shops and restaurants. Nobody stops to cheer/thank but regardless we have high respect for them.
How its in your country? Are people like "Thank you for your service!" like in America or is military/war related not looked upon?