Funny you should mention spending money we don't have.
Isn't that the theme of this war?
Unless you have been stationed in some God forsaken sh1t hole of a war, then you haven't a clue what these troops appreciate.
As a former troop who was in a similar situation, I can tell you for a fact that they do appreciate a little pat on the back once in a while from their leaders.
But chicken hawks don't have a clue, you'd have to have served in the military during wartime to know that.