I. An army means business.
II. An army's business is to have you killed.
III If you save some bullets, you save 'em just to shoot 'em a bit later. There may be no other reason to save bullets whatever.
If an army save some soldier's life, it's just to have him killed a bit later. There may be no other reason for an army to save it's soldiers whatever.
IV. "Yours" army usually expects to exchange your life for some two or three life's of an "enemy" army soldiers. An enemy army expects about the same. And the only difference for you is the exchange rate. Your army values your life somewhat higher than "an enemy". Well, your life is your army's trade goods; it makes sense for it to try and drive it's goods price on the market up a little. But then, it may make some nice profit by the sales volume at the low price too.
In any case, at the point, when "your" army agrees on the lower price on your life, then "an enemy" sets, there goes your only chance to live a bit longer (to be saved for later), as the wholesale operation starts. At this point, you have no "your side" any more, just a lot of real enemies around. Even as it's nothing personal for 'em, just a good business.
V. The only way to drive your life's value for an army way's up is to make sure, that where it (your life) comes from - there isn't a lot more - any more. So, when you pray to see another day, you do pray for the extinction of your own nation, actually. And don't try to appeal to your "compatriots". For 'em, your just "that bustard, who prays for our extinction".