I understood your point CS, and I don't dispute what you say.
Except that mine isn't a garrison town, and it's not only soldiers who go out to battle on Saturday nights.

"They dress up smartly, go out in big groups, get bladdered and of course start fights."

A stereotype of the people in your town - happens to be the same stereotype that applies to the people in our town, the only difference being that in your town 'They' are soldiers, in my town 'They' are civilians. So it's not only soldiers who start fights - your point seemed to be that it is.