Look through the other end of the telescope.
Joe Bloggs is a university student or unemployed and is a debt on the nation.
Tommy Atkins OTOH is not on the dole and although also a debt on the nation you may deduct his notional dole money, income tax and national insurance, and his other indirect taxes. The balance is therefore either neutral or a credit.
At the other end of the scale, your wg cdr would either be working and contributing the same as Tommy Atkins or retired with a big bucket of money and a substantial pension. One is a credit and the other a straight debit albeit with some taxes paid.
Either way, in the overall scheme of things, an employed serviceman is cheaper for the economy than a redundant one who still costs big bucks but is no longer productive.