I can't emphasize enough how the only way I can feel any amount of redemption for being in the military (fortunately doing little to no harm in mostly a time of peace and waltzing out right after 9-11) is I've talked at least 5 kids out of joining. And I have regular discussions with my veteran family members who are grappling with what they did, and what Uncle Sam did to them.
I've gotten my Iraq Vet cousin to begin understanding how the military used him, and now he grasps some of the basic tenets of left thinking.
Do I think vets are absolved? No. None of us are. I'm not. But I will say this: cops know they're getting into the game of beating down people in the name of class arrogance, racism, and hatred for fellow man; in my opinion they are deplorable and unredeemable. Many vets however are often tricked into thinking they're doing some amount of good in the world, only to find out we were or are tools of imperialistic policing abroad. I think some of us can be redeemed.