Are you saying that to have any value to the military an individual must be deployed and shed blood? Every time I see a recruiting commercial for the military, it's usually a montage of people jumping out of airplanes and training for a career in technology.
Maybe our military doesn't want to project the idea that everyone who serves will end up overseas fighting for their lives in the middle east. That message might not attract the diverse pool of talent that they're looking for.
Instead, a skinny African with a big ass smile might make some brainy XC kid in Texas think: "sh*t...if he can run for the army, I can find something to do there too".
Chelimo is playing his role and worth every penny.