Rewriting Discharge Policy With the Constitution in Mind: A Call for Justice, Equity, and Reform
- Kirk Carlson
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
In the history of American military service, few decisions carry as lasting an impact as the way a service member is discharged. A single line on a DD-214 can open—or permanently close—the doors to health care, education, employment, and dignity. Yet for far too long, discharge policies have failed to reflect the constitutional values our service members swear to uphold: equality, due process, and justice.
It’s time we confront a hard truth: our current military discharge system often punishes injury, discriminates against difference, and bypasses the principles embedded in the Constitution.
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The Constitutional Gap
The Constitution guarantees due process and equal protection under the law. But in the military, non-deployable service members—often injured, disabled, or suffering from trauma—are discharged not because of misconduct, but because they can no longer meet deployability standards. These policies overlook one key fact: many of these individuals can still serve meaningfully in non-combat roles.
In civilian employment, injured workers are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accommodations are required. Job reassignment is an option. But within the Department of Defense, no parallel system exists. The result? Thousands of honorable and capable service members are discharged simply for being injured or different.
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Why It Matters
Disabled service members deserve a pathway to remain in uniform—not just a fast track to discharge.
LGBTQ+ troops, particularly transgender individuals, have historically been targets of vague “fitness” or “deployability” policies that disregard constitutional protections.
Mental health injuries are treated as liabilities, not as recoverable conditions, even when service members are actively seeking care.
Discharge status doesn’t just end a career—it can mean the loss of VA benefits, job opportunities, and social respect. For many, it adds insult to injury.
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A Constitutional Model for Military Discharge
Reforming military discharge policy isn’t about lowering standards—it’s about aligning those standards with the values we claim to defend.
Here’s what a constitutionally grounded reform would include:
✅ Reassignment Pathways for non-deployable personnel
✅ Injury Accommodations, modeled after the ADA
✅ Transparent Review Boards with due process protections
✅ Recognition of Recovery and Rehabilitation, not automatic separation
✅ Non-combat Roles for Injured Warriors, allowing them to contribute meaningfully
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The Covenant of Courage Approach
At Covenant of Courage, we’re not asking for charity—we’re demanding constitutionality. Our #ReasonableRanks campaign pushes for legislation and Department of Defense policy reform that protects the rights and dignity of service members who were willing to give everything for their country.
We’re not just rewriting policy—we’re rewriting injustice.
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Join the Fight
Every American has a stake in how we treat those who wear the uniform. This is about protecting the very Constitution that service members swear to defend. Let’s make sure the system defends them in return.
📩 Email: support@reasonableranks.org
📝 Sign the petition for discharge reform: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR
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