My responsibility to protect my family from unjust violence is absolute. I will protect them from anyone. Anyone.
And my oath is to the Constitution. The military, at least, is taught that the Constitution is NOT the same as the government. That's why the public trusts us to protect American values rather than to protect individual politicians, political parties or monarchs. The government is merely a caretaker.
Re: Apaches and tanks...do you seriously think we're winning in Iraq and Afghanistan with tanks, drones and helicopters? Maybe you should watch the news sometime. That equipment might make a bad day for some individuals, but that's the benefit of living for something greater than oneself...many folks are willing to accept bad days to protect something more important.
Good days, peace and comfort are not the most important things in life...but maybe that's something the protected will never truly understand.