It sure can be. Having been Ex Military myself, definately helps motivate the student(s) when in the back of their mind they realize you know what their going through, and that at times helps them focus a little better when they realize you have or may of had the same experiences, and here you are getting them through the same experiences.
I always try to re enforce that input with the understanding that all of these life experiences may throw you a curve ball from time to time, but in the end can help make you a stronger person and better for it.
