The Promise We Must Keep: Supporting Disabled Veterans Beyond the Battlefield
- Kirk Carlson
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
By Kirk Carlson | USMC Veteran | Founder, Covenant of Courage
When a nation sends its men and women to war, it makes a sacred promise: if you return home—especially if you return injured—we will take care of you. That promise is the foundation of every veterans’ benefit program, and it reflects the deepest values of loyalty, gratitude, and national responsibility. But too often, those promises are broken or weakened by red tape, indifference, and outdated policy.
Today, we’re seeing an alarming trend: service members who sustain injuries during training or active duty are being quietly discharged—not supported. Their conditions may not stem from combat, but the impact is no less real. These veterans are medically released with little transition support, uncertain access to benefits, and no option to remain in service in non-combat roles.
The Original Purpose of Veterans’ Benefits
Veterans’ benefits were never meant to be handouts. They were created to protect the wellbeing of those who risked everything—to give peace of mind to the injured, the traumatized, and the forgotten. These systems exist to prevent fear, homelessness, and despair among those who have already sacrificed more than most citizens will ever understand.
And while we’ve made progress in recognizing visible injuries, invisible wounds—such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic illnesses—continue to be misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and inadequately supported.
Accountability and Moral Obligation
It’s not just about benefits; it’s about accountability. Those who sent our troops into conflict—governments, corporations, political leaders—must be held to a higher standard. We cannot allow global decision-makers to benefit from the labor and sacrifice of military members, only to discard them when they’re no longer “mission-ready.”
Veterans did not sign up for a lifetime of red tape. They signed up to serve, and many did so with honor. We, as a nation, owe it to them to honor that service with action.
The #ReasonableRanks Solution
The #ReasonableRanks campaign is grounded in this moral truth: If a veteran becomes non-deployable due to injury, that should not mean the end of their military career. Just like in the civilian federal workforce, reassignment should be the first option, not discharge.
Whether it’s serving in training roles, cybersecurity, base operations, or recruitment—many roles in the military don’t require combat readiness. These are perfect opportunities for injured service members to continue serving with dignity.
A Call to Action
To truly support our veterans, we must go beyond thank-you’s and parades. We need:
Career reassignment policies that keep injured troops in uniform
Full VA benefits for all service-connected injuries, not just combat-related ones
Public accountability for the systems that push veterans out
Legislation that honors all forms of sacrifice—not just the ones that fit outdated definitions
We have a responsibility to do better. As a nation, we must fulfill the promise we made to those who served—and that begins with changing the system that’s failing them now.
🖊️ Support the movement: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR
🌐 Learn more: www.ReasonableRanks.org
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