Veteran-Led Campaign Calls for Policy Reform to Protect Injured Service Members from Unjust Discharges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kirk Carlson

Founder, Covenant of Courage

📧 kirkbcarlson@covenantofcourage.com

📞 323-471-7279

🌐 www.covenantofcourage.com

Veteran-Led Campaign Calls for Policy Reform to Protect Injured Service Members from Unjust Discharges

Las Vegas, NV – June 2 2025 - A veteran-led nonprofit, Covenant of Courage, has launched a nationwide policy reform initiative urging the Department of Defense and U.S. Congress to create career reassignment options for injured service members who are currently discharged without sufficient protections or benefits.

The #ReasonableRanks campaign, founded by retired U.S. Marine and veteran advocate Kirk Carlson, highlights a growing crisis: thousands of service members are honorably discharged each year due to injuries sustained during training—not combat—yet are offered no viable path to continue serving in alternate roles.

“We don’t discharge civilian employees when they get injured—we reassign them. The military should do the same,” said Carlson. “These troops volunteered to serve, got hurt doing their duty, and are being quietly sent home with no career, no recognition, and often limited benefits. That’s not justice. That’s neglect.”

Key campaign demands include:

• Creation of a career reassignment pathway for non-deployable but capable personnel

• Full VA benefits for service-connected injuries sustained during training

• Reform of discharge policies to align with federal disability law and labor standards

• Recognition and dignity for those never deployed but fully committed to serve

With more than 160 petition signatures and growing support from veterans, educators, and community leaders, the campaign is building momentum. Covenant of Courage has begun outreach to elected officials, veteran organizations, and national media to shine a light on this overlooked issue.

“This is about justice, efficiency, and basic decency. We can’t afford to lose good people just because they can’t deploy,” said Carlson. “We owe them more than a discharge slip.”

Join the Movement

📢 Sign the petition and learn more at: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

About Covenant of Courage

Covenant of Courage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering veterans, first responders, and youth through education, advocacy, and community-based solutions. Founded by a Marine Corps veteran, the organization fights for those who were injured in the line of duty but left behind in policy and recognition.