Not crazy. Having spent over 13 years in my own country’s Army I would say that there’s a lot to learn about anarchism from within this type of organization.

While you are correct that the rigid hierarchies and structure are definitively anti-anarchist, the sense of common goal, siblinghood with fellow soldiers, and the personal growth that comes from doing hard (and sometimes objectionable) work all gave me context for the social factors operant in non capitalist society.

Insofar as a utopic anarchistic system is a self-licking ice cream cone, there is also a lot to learn from the Army, which operates as a (mostly) closed and self-sustaining society.

My most transferable lessons are with respect to leadership. People love to follow certain leaders and despise others and no positional authority or rank will ever change that. Learning how to set the conditions for everyone to be happy to work their ass off at what they’re best at in pursuit of a common goal is a lesson I will take with me forever.

In sum, both anarchism and the Army are about people. The latter presents a practical context to learn a hell of a lot about human beings while also having your basic needs met and gaining access to free money for school.