There's a lot of group-think in the Clans, and very little individuality. It's like your entire life is junior high, and every person in authority is a football coach. Aidan has started reading Little Women, and he's really into it, but he knows enough not to let anybody find out.
By the time he's a Star Colonel, he's earned a Bloodname and established himself, and it's not so big a deal anymore. He's risen as high as he can go, and there's really not much anybody can do to him for being a little different.