I hypothesize this is not so much about influencing US policy and action directly, or even about spying on assets, but more about mutually assured destruction for when a cyber war breaks out.

The state actors responsible for this want the US to know that they have these records. That they can attack/disturb/flood the personal computers, social networks, and family of these soldiers / military assets.

Also note the apparent warning in the Shadow Brokers auction:

> You see what cryptolockers and stuxnet can do. You see free files we give for free. You see attacks on banks and SWIFT in news. Maybe there is Equation Group version of cryptolocker+stuxnet for banks and financial systems? If Equation Group lose control of cyber weapons, who else lose or find cyber weapons? If electronic data go bye bye where leave Wealthy Elites? Maybe with dumb cattle?