ADA-Style Protections for Active Duty: A Vital Step Toward Equity and Retention

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transformed civilian workplaces by mandating reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Yet, those who serve our country in uniform—active-duty service members—are not guaranteed similar protections under military policy. It’s time we change that.

🚫 The Double Standard

When a civilian employee becomes injured or disabled, the ADA ensures their employer must make reasonable efforts to accommodate their limitations—adjusting job duties, modifying schedules, or transferring them to a position they can perform. But in the U.S. military, if an active-duty service member becomes non-deployable due to injury or illness, the system often moves straight to discharge—even when they are fully capable of contributing in non-combat roles like administration, cyber security, intelligence, or training.

This practice creates a damaging contradiction: the people we ask to risk everything in service of their country are not afforded the basic workplace protections civilians take for granted.

⚖️ Why ADA-Style Protections Matter

1. Honor the Whole Person, Not Just the Mission

Service members are more than warfighters—they are technicians, analysts, leaders, and mentors. ADA-style accommodations would allow them to transition into roles that align with their new abilities, rather than pushing them out of service entirely.

2. Boost Retention & Readiness

With recruitment shortfalls across the Armed Forces, retaining trained personnel is critical. Reassigning rather than discharging injured service members keeps talent in the system and saves significant resources in training costs.

3. Reinforce Trust and Morale

When troops know that the military will have their back—especially after injury—they are more likely to commit to long-term service. Trust is not just built on words, but on policies that reflect dignity and fairness.

🛡️ What Could ADA-Style Accommodations Look Like in Uniform?

• Reassignment to Modified Duties: Transferring an injured service member to a support role within their command or another branch unit

• Flexible Physical Requirements: Adapting fitness standards for non-deployable billets

• Assistive Technology or Equipment: Providing ergonomic tools or assistive tech in technical and office roles

• Transition Counseling & Career Pathways: Helping injured personnel retrain for new specialties rather than forcing separation

🔧 The Path Forward: Reform Through Policy & Willpower

This is not about lowering standards for combat roles—it’s about creating new pathways for service members who are still committed to wearing the uniform. By embracing ADA-style protections, the Department of Defense can bring its policies in line with modern workforce values and basic human dignity.

Congress, military leaders, and advocacy organizations must come together to review current discharge policies and establish a Reassignment Clause for injured or disabled service members. It’s a reform that reflects both moral responsibility and strategic foresight.

📢 Join the Movement: #ReasonableRanks

The #ReasonableRanks campaign calls for legislative and regulatory reforms to protect injured service members from unjust discharges and create clear reassignment opportunities.

👉 Sign the petition: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

🌐 Learn more: www.covenantofcourage.com/reasonableranks-action

Our veterans deserve more than a thank you—they deserve policies that protect their dignity and potential. Let’s make ADA-style military protections a reality.