If Afattori says he's a veteran, then you gotta respect his record of service. I don't know of any nerds who have joined the military in these present places of conflict and have gotten their limbs blown off and had their lives taken all for the sake of our freedom. Nerds, not, courageous heroes, yes.
No reason you can't be both, and it is a anecdotal fallacy to think there are none when you simply "don't know any". I know a few.