Veteran Advocacy: What You Need to Know About the #ReasonableRanks Movement

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

Across the United States, injured service members are being discharged—not for misconduct, but for becoming medically non-deployable. These are men and women who served honorably, many of whom were injured during training, operations, or as a result of service-related illnesses. When they can no longer meet deployability standards, they’re too often forced out of uniform, with little recognition and few options.

This is the injustice that the #ReasonableRanks movement was created to address.

Launched by veterans and advocates, #ReasonableRanks is a nonpartisan, grassroots campaign to reform military discharge policy. It seeks to create a formal career reassignment pathway for injured service members who are no longer deployable—but who are still mission-capable in support or non-combat roles.

🎯 The Mission: Reassignment Over Discharge

The U.S. military currently treats deployability as the primary standard for continued service. But the reality is: not all jobs in the military require combat readiness. Many require expertise, institutional knowledge, or technical skill—qualities that injured service members still have.

Rather than automatically discharging troops who can’t deploy, #ReasonableRanks advocates for reassignment to roles like:

• Training commands

• Recruiting and retention support

• Cybersecurity and IT

• Logistics and base operations

• Administrative, medical, or education support roles

This is not about lowering standards in combat units. It’s about expanding opportunity where it already exists—preserving talent, saving taxpayer dollars, and showing respect to those who’ve sacrificed.

🔥 Why This Matters

Thousands of veterans have been discharged because of injuries that occurred in the line of duty, many before ever deploying. These individuals often lose:

• Access to retirement benefits

• Full VA disability ratings

• The chance to continue serving their country

• Their sense of identity and purpose

Worse, some are discharged under less-than-honorable conditions if their injuries were misinterpreted as behavioral issues—especially in cases involving PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This is not just a military issue. It’s a moral, financial, and national readiness issue.

🛠 What the Movement Is Fighting For

The #ReasonableRanks platform is focused on four major reforms:

1. Reassignment Instead of Discharge

   
   

   Create a systemwide option for injured service members to transfer to non-deployable roles.

2. Preserve Rank and Benefits

   
   

   Ensure reassigned personnel retain their pay, retirement eligibility, and access to VA support.

3. Discharge Review Reform

   
   

   Establish review processes for veterans who were discharged before receiving proper medical diagnoses (e.g., PTSD, MST, or TBI).

4. Legislation to Codify Reform

   
   

   Push Congress and DoD to formally integrate career reassignment into discharge policy—making separation a last resort, not the default.

📣 Campaign Progress So Far

As of today, #ReasonableRanks has:

• Secured over 180 petition signatures from veterans, families, and allies

• Engaged elected officials across California, Nevada, and beyond

• Published articles, op-eds, and educational materials on military reform

• Partnered with colleges, veteran organizations, and civic leaders

• Launched a growing outreach campaign with town halls, flyers, and public speaking events

Veterans across generations—Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan—are stepping forward to share stories of being discharged after injury, with little support or career transition.

✊ How You Can Help

Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or a civilian ally, your voice matters in this movement.

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

✅ Visit the Campaign Site: www.ReasonableRanks.org

✅ Share Your Story or testimony for public or legislative use

✅ Contact your elected officials and ask them to support reassignment policy reform

✅ Follow & Amplify: #ReasonableRanks #VeteransMatter #ReassignmentNotDischarge

Final Thoughts

Veteran advocacy doesn’t require political affiliation—just moral clarity. The #ReasonableRanks movement isn’t about changing military culture overnight. It’s about building a smarter, more just system that recognizes the value of every person who puts on the uniform.

When we say “no one gets left behind”, that must include our injured—and that must include those who are willing to continue serving if only we give them the chance.

Let’s make that chance real.