There’s not much of a comparison – those were accomplished talmidei chachamim, who were not in any spiritual danger from joining the army, and whose primary occupation, even during wartime, was learning (consider the encounter between the malach and Yehoshua). “
DY, perhaps if there were more ultra frum people in the army (I don’t advocate for this, though), there would be a greater hashpaah from them on the chilonim, isntead of the reverse that you seem to fear.