To “M”: someone serving in artillery is not asked why is not also serving in tanks. Someone in amphibious commando (“Shyetet 13”) is not asked why, additionally, he is not a pilot. Everyone has their assigned task. Even the “jobniks” contribute something important, albeit not as “glamorous” or in times of conflict, as dangerous. Everyone here knows there are 5-6 “jobniks” for every combat soldier. Not everyone is a combat soldier. And unless there is a “real” war (last time was Yom Kippur 1973), only about 25% or so of the soldiers are actually “exposed to danger.”
The Bnei Torah are serving the nation with their learning. They are contributing mightily to the defense of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael. It’s too bad that so many people still don’t understand this. But this does not change the facts. A cadre of people constantly learning Torah is part of the overall defense scheme.