Skybird, that was totally enlightening. I knew a bit about your border patrol, but not the social service. Very interesting.
When you "cripple" your vehicles to make others run, that's called "cannibalizing" parts. You have to cannibalize to make your vehicles run. Navy does this with it's aircraft and helicopters. Army has to do the same thing to up-armor their tanks and troop-carriers in Iraq.
Generally speaking, "professional" armies sustain better morale under arduous conditions. In part because of the need, but in part because it's a choice.