But is the dichotomy your speaking more an observance specific to the D.C. area?

You say: One thing I've found from living in the "DC region" for decades is that just because someone is MIL, there is zero guarantee that they are Patriots.

I would think that the profile of a military person living in that bubble of big government constantly swimming that liberal soup, is not reflective of the profile of the majority of Veterans who live outside of that influence. Indeed is not the majority of veterans from Rural America?

(I am assuming that what was true in 2003/2005 as reported in below report, still holds, that a disproportionate number of activity duty personal are from a rural area, and more southern.)

https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/who-are-the-recruits-the-demographic-characteristics-us-military-enlistment-2003

I would accept the premise that military members may reflect the political profile of the general population, meaning that those that are from a dominate leftist area, or those raised in a heavily left leaning family are no more of the patriotic brand that non-military members just like Catholic priest are not more inclined as population to abuse male children than non-priest that have a similar degree of contact with the same children i.e. school teachers, coaches, or even daycare workers.

BTW - My two nieces live in D.C. area. One was actually an Assistant Sec of a key departments under Trump admin, and had some major responsibilities also in DHS.