The only way to make the army more “pure” is for pure people to join it en masse and lead by example. And I thought a milchemes mitzvah today was a milchama fought against sonim who want to eradicate Klal Yisroel. Would you not say that describes the Arab agenda pretty accurately?
I think the chilonim justifiably do not “get” why any Jew should be exempt from defending E”Y, simply because he is learning. My cousins who are ALL frum, served their time in the army in NACHAL, and the girls did sherut leumi. I would only concur that girls should not be forced into army service when they could be doing something to help their country that does not require military training.
Learning unfortunately did not save the boys who were slaughtered a few years ago in their Yeshivah. Had those bochurim all been trained militarily, perhaps the story would have had a happier outcome. At the very least, they would not have been sitting ducks. There is no dishonor in knowing how (and being prepared) to defend oneself and one’s country. Quite the contrary. And yes, the learning is also crucial for that.