I always think more of people who were asked if they wanted something, but actually turned them down. David Bowie (a one time jazz musician of some note) and also Nigella Lawson apparently (a comely chef) spring to mind. Source- what I read somewhere once).
Other, far more successful (and a lot fairer) countries don't bother with all this nonsense, and it would be a sign of progress somehow if neither did we.
"The wheel that squeeks the loudest gets the most grease".* includes the military.