The practical reasons for a military trying to indoctrinate its troops with a religion are:

• Soldiers are less frightened of dying, and hence more willing to take risk to kill opponents.
• Soldiers a less guilty about killing others. They are just prematurely dispatching them to the afterlife.
• It excuses what is normally considered extremely evil behaviour. If you are doing something for god, the normal rules of right and wrong do not apply.
• The military can promise extravagant rewards for martyrdom without actually having to deliver anything.

~ Roedy (born: 1948-02-04 age: 64)