Medically Discharged, Economically Disadvantaged: Why It’s Time to Rethink How We Treat Injured Service Members
- Kirk Carlson
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Every year, thousands of U.S. service members are medically discharged due to injuries or illnesses sustained during training—often before they even deploy. While these men and women were ready and willing to serve, they are frequently released without career reassignment, limited benefits, and few civilian prospects.
This isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a national disservice.
The Hidden Cost of Medical Discharges
Veterans with medical discharges face unique challenges that go far beyond the battlefield. While their discharge may have been honorable, the long-term consequences are far from fair:
1.
Barriers to High-Paying Jobs
Medical discharges can negatively affect job prospects in the civilian world. Many employers misinterpret a medical discharge as an indicator of unreliability or diminished capacity—even when that is far from the truth. According to the Journal of Veterans Studies, employer bias remains a persistent barrier for disabled and medically discharged veterans.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor has consistently reported higher rates of underemployment among veterans with disabilities compared to their non-disabled peers. These veterans often end up in lower-paying jobs that do not reflect their skills, leadership, or experience.
2.
Lack of Reasonable Accommodations
While federal civilian workplaces are required to provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act, similar accommodations are not consistently offered within the military itself. Instead of retaining a service member in an administrative or modified role, the system frequently opts for discharge—regardless of the individual’s continued commitment or capacity to serve in another way.
Veterans who served as dispatchers, analysts, or in other support roles while on “light duty” have questioned why they were not allowed to finish their careers in those same positions. The answer is often inflexible policy—not lack of ability.
3.
A Financial Loss to the Military
From a cost-efficiency standpoint, discharging trained service members is a significant waste of taxpayer dollars. The average cost to recruit and train a new service member exceeds $50,000. Replacing skilled personnel due to medical discharge—especially when accommodations could have preserved their service—represents both a financial and strategic loss.
The #ReasonableRanks Campaign
This is why we launched the #ReasonableRanks campaign: to bring national attention to the unfair discharge practices affecting our medically injured troops and to call for reforms that prioritize retention, accommodations, and post-discharge dignity.
Our campaign advocates for:
Career Reassignment Options for injured service members.
Full Access to Benefits for those discharged due to service-connected injuries.
Recognition and Honor for those who were injured while training, not just those who deployed.
Legislative Reform to prevent blanket discharges without first evaluating alternate service opportunities.
The Path Forward
We need a military system that mirrors our national values—one that doesn’t throw away its heroes when they get hurt. With the right policy changes, the U.S. can ensure every service member has a chance to continue serving in a meaningful way, or exit the military with the recognition and benefits they have earned.
It’s time we stop penalizing injury and start honoring perseverance.
📢 Support the Campaign
Sign the petition and join the movement at https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR
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