Injured, Not Insubordinate: Why Reassignment Must Replace Discharge

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

Across every branch of the U.S. military, service members are being discharged—not for misconduct, but because of injuries or medical conditions that make them non-deployable. These are men and women who volunteered, trained, and sacrificed. And now, they’re being pushed out of uniform without dignity, support, or meaningful alternatives.

This is not just a policy failure—it’s a moral one.

That’s why the #ReasonableRanks campaign is calling for a clear, formal policy change: support reassignment over discharge for injured service members who remain capable and committed.

The Problem: A System That Discards

Current military discharge policies treat deployability as the primary measure of a service member’s utility. If you can’t deploy, you’re often considered no longer fit to serve. But what about the experience, leadership, and technical knowledge these individuals still offer?

Discharging injured troops—many of whom were hurt during training or in domestic support roles—means:

• Losing talent that could fill critical non-combat roles

• Forcing veterans into premature retirement or joblessness

• Stripping away their sense of identity and purpose

• Adding strain to the VA and social services system

The Solution: A Reassignment Pathway

We’re not asking the military to lower combat standards. We’re asking for a smarter system—one that values adaptability, loyalty, and human potential.

Imagine if non-deployable service members were reassigned to:

• Training commands

• Logistics and maintenance roles

• Cybersecurity units

• Medical administration

• Recruitment offices

These positions are vital to mission readiness—and often understaffed. Reassignment is not only compassionate—it’s strategic.

The Movement: #ReasonableRanks

We’ve built a nonpartisan coalition of veterans, family members, policy advocates, and everyday citizens who believe in honoring service by reforming policy. With over 180 petition signatures and growing, we are urging Congress and the Department of Defense to:

✅ Codify a reassignment pathway for injured, non-deployable troops

✅ Preserve rank, retirement status, and VA eligibility

✅ End the default use of discharge as the only option

✅ Recognize that injury does not mean insubordination

Final Thoughts

When a service member raises their hand, they don’t ask whether they’ll be deployed or desked. They commit to serve. And when they’re injured in the line of that commitment, we owe them more than a discharge form—we owe them purpose, options, and respect.

Let’s replace rejection with reassignment. Let’s build a force that retains its own. And let’s remind this nation that every uniformed American deserves to be seen, supported, and remembered.

🖊️ Sign the Petition: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

🌐 Learn More: www.ReasonableRanks.org

📣 Join the Movement: #ReasonableRanks #VeteransMatter #InjuredNotInsubordinate #ReassignmentNotDischarge