This thread keeps re-emerging on various airline's forums here on FT.

My opnion is why should a soldier be upgraded and not a firefighter or a teacher or a policeman or a ... etc? All these individuals signed up for their jobs and without knowing what the soldier does in the army one can arguably say that there are other civilian profissions that can be equally or even more dangerous and demanding.

Not only I would not support giving my FC seat I paid for in full to a soldier, I would also not give out my upgraded FC seat either. Where does one draw a line on who is more worthy of an upgrade/FC seat, soldier, firefighter, a cop, etc... Would a teacher deserve that seat more? I certainly think so (for many reasons).
Bottomline is: GA's should follow the protocol for upgrades. If somebody wants to give up their seats to whoever they want (soldier, cop, the Pope), they are more then welcome to do it, but to EXPECT somebody to give up their seat is just plain wrong.