Progress in Motion: #ReasonableRanks Campaign Builds Local Momentum for National Reform

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

As of June 2025, the #ReasonableRanks campaign has entered a powerful new phase — transforming from grassroots veteran advocacy into a growing regional movement with municipal support, public visibility, and mounting pressure for federal reform.

Launched to address the systemic injustice facing injured U.S. service members discharged without reassignment options, the campaign calls for policy changes that align military discharge procedures with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and Equal Protection Clause principles.

This month, we’ve taken bold steps forward.

📍 Groundbreaking Local Support:

On June 10, 2025, the City of Corona, California became the first in the state to issue a formal Letter of Support for the campaign, signed by Mayor Jim Steiner and backed by the full City Council. The letter affirms the city’s commitment to honoring those who were injured while preparing to serve — and recognizes the moral and legal urgency of reform.

“Military policy should reflect the truth that service comes in many forms… The #ReasonableRanks campaign isn’t just about policy reform — it’s about restoring dignity.”

— Mayor Jim Steiner, City of Corona

This milestone has become the model for city-level support efforts across Southern California.

📨 Regional Outreach: 5 Cities Contacted

Building on Corona’s endorsement, the campaign initiated targeted outreach to several key cities:

✅ Irvine – City Council and Mayor Larry Agran

✅ Costa Mesa – Constituent Services

✅ Fullerton – General City Council Inbox

✅ Santa Ana – Public Comment Submission Portal

✅ Anaheim – Contact in progress via City Clerk

Each email included:

• A personal appeal from founder Kirk Carlson

• The official City of Corona endorsement letter

• A concise campaign one-pager

• A direct link to the Change.org petition

  
  

  (https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR)

Follow-ups are scheduled within the next 7–10 days to offer presentations, request formal endorsements, or be added to public meeting agendas.

📊 Tools & Materials Produced

To support outreach and visibility, the campaign developed:

• A printable one-pager and legislative brief

• Public graphics including:

  
  

  • “Broken but Brave: Why Training Injuries Deserve Recognition”

  • “Military Readiness & the Discharge Crisis: By the Numbers”

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• Custom infographics for petition milestones and city-level outreach

• A professional progress report for municipal and media use

  
  
  
  

🔜 What’s Next?

With city-level endorsements underway and awareness growing, the next strategic goals include:

• Reaching 500+ petition signatures

• Submitting op-eds to local media and veteran publications

• Securing endorsements from faith-based and veteran service organizations

• Scheduling briefings with members of Congress (Rep. Takano, Rep. Correa, Sen. Padilla)

• Launching veteran testimonial videos and public roundtable events

• Expanding outreach to Riverside, Long Beach, and San Diego

🗣️ Why This Matters

Every year, thousands of service members are injured in training or non-combat duty, only to be discharged as “non-deployable” — despite their willingness and ability to continue serving in alternate roles. These discharges are not misconduct-based. They are system-based.

The #ReasonableRanks campaign asks a simple question:

Why does military policy still deny reassignment and accommodation to injured troops, when civilian law has required it for over 30 years?

📣 Join the Movement

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

🌐 Learn more: www.ReasonableRanks.org

📬 Contact: kirkbcarlson@covenantofcourage.com

Every injury has a story. Every story deserves justice.