Injured, Not Invisible: The Growing Movement to Reform Military Discharge Policy

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

Every year, thousands of service members are honorably discharged before ever setting foot on a battlefield—not for misconduct or lack of commitment, but because of injuries or medical conditions sustained during training. These are men and women who swore an oath, gave their all, and were willing to serve in any capacity. Yet instead of being reassigned or supported, they were quietly sent home—often without access to career opportunities, full health protections, or the respect afforded to their peers.

The #ReasonableRanks campaign was launched to challenge this status quo and demand policy reform. At its core, this movement calls for career reassignment—not discharge—for injured service members who can still contribute meaningfully to the mission in non-combat roles.

A Campaign on the Rise

In just a few short weeks, #ReasonableRanks has surpassed 171 petition signatures, with support growing daily from veterans, families, students, and advocates across the country.

Through a combination of grassroots outreach and strategic advocacy, we’ve published original articles, designed powerful graphics, and engaged directly with civic leaders, college veteran centers, and major media outlets.

We’ve reached out personally to organizations like the VFW, DAV, Wounded Warrior Project, and American Legion, as well as city councils, mayors, and veteran service officers in California and Nevada. We’ve also contacted veteran-affiliated institutions like UNLV, UCLA, SDSU, and USC to help amplify our message. National media outlets such as Military Times, Stars & Stripes, NBC LA, and ABC7 are now on our radar.

Bridging Divides with Strategic Messaging

What makes this campaign different is our commitment to respectful, bipartisan dialogue. In an increasingly polarized climate, #ReasonableRanks focuses on what unites us: the shared belief that those who serve deserve dignity and fairness.

We’ve responded to criticism not with anger, but with facts—grounded in military regulations, legal precedent, and lived experience. This professionalism has allowed us to retain credibility and earn the trust of diverse audiences, even in challenging online spaces.

We’ve also begun drafting policy white papers and op-eds aimed at Congress and the Department of Defense to present clear, actionable reforms.

Lifting Up Every Voice

So far, the campaign has generated:

• Over 200 SEO-optimized article titles based on veteran stories and online discourse

• A series of downloadable PDFs, including one-pagers, campaign summaries, and legal memos

• A user-friendly website experience with improved navigation and a soon-to-launch “Stories” page dedicated to sharing firsthand veteran experiences

We’ve also produced new visual content that tells our story without distortion, adhering to branding best practices.

What’s Next?

As we push forward, our priorities are clear:

• Daily outreach to supporters, media, and decision-makers

• Finalizing and distributing our white paper to Congress, the DoD, and military policy committees

• Expanding our testimonial library to give voice to those silenced by the system

• Building our Stories page to cultivate a space where veterans can be seen and heard

#ReasonableRanks is more than a petition—it’s a promise to every injured service member that their sacrifice matters, their voice counts, and their story will not be erased.

We’re just getting started.