17% of Soldiers Medically Discharged Within 4 Years of Knee Surgery: A Silent Crisis in Military Readiness and Retention

By Kirk Carlson | USMC Veteran | Founder, Covenant of Courage

Introduction: A Hidden Cost of Service

In the U.S. military, knee injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal issues affecting active-duty personnel — especially in physically demanding roles like infantry, combat support, and special operations. But a new data point is raising alarm: 17% of service members who undergo knee surgery are medically discharged within just four years.

This statistic reflects more than just a health concern — it exposes a broader policy failure affecting troop retention, force readiness, and the dignity of those who served.

The Numbers Behind the Trend

According to recent studies from military health system reviews and veteran medical records, approximately 1 in 6 service members who receive surgery for knee-related injuries do not remain on active duty beyond the 4-year mark. For many, the road to recovery is long, uneven, and unsupported — not because of a lack of effort or will, but because current military policy treats medical limitations as disqualifiers, rather than grounds for reassignment or rehabilitation.

The Real-World Impact

For enlisted soldiers and junior NCOs, the outcome of knee surgery can mean more than limited mobility — it can be the end of a career they were committed to.

These discharges are not for misconduct, nor lack of dedication. They are often issued under the premise of “non-deployability,” as the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to maintain rigid standards that prioritize combat readiness above all else, even when troops are still capable of serving in non-combat, leadership, instructional, or administrative roles.

“I wasn’t looking to be sent to the front lines again,” said one Army specialist who was discharged 3 years after ACL reconstruction. “I just wanted to keep serving, even if it meant working behind a desk or training others.”

Legal & Ethical Questions

This trend raises serious legal and ethical questions about compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Equal Protection Clause. Unlike civilian employers, the military is not fully bound by ADA reassignment provisions — meaning injured service members often have no legal path to reasonable accommodation.

That gap in protection has life-altering consequences. Medically discharged troops may face:

• Loss of income and career stability

• Barriers to accessing VA benefits

• Emotional distress and loss of identity

• Increased risk of mental health struggles and suicide

The Case for Reform

Advocacy campaigns like #ReasonableRanks are pushing to change this. The campaign, led by Covenant of Courage, calls for a reassignment-based alternative to medical discharge — allowing injured service members to remain in uniform in modified roles when possible, just like civilians with disabilities can under federal law.

This approach would:

• Retain valuable trained personnel

• Reduce long-term disability costs

• Honor the service of injured troops with meaningful alternatives

• Improve morale and trust in leadership

A Time for Action

If 17% of soldiers are being medically discharged within 4 years of knee surgery, the military must ask itself: Is readiness really being preserved by discarding dedicated troops prematurely?

With aging equipment, recruitment shortfalls, and global instability, the military can’t afford to lose capable people to inflexible policies. Reforming discharge practices isn’t about lowering standards — it’s about evolving them to meet the human realities of service in the 21st century.

📢 Join the Movement

Support the #ReasonableRanks campaign today by signing the petition:

👉 https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

Learn more at: 🌐 www.ReasonableRanks.org