When Federal Law Clashes With Military Policy

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By Covenant of Courage | #ReasonableRanks Campaign

In the United States, federal law is meant to be the highest legal standard—guiding how we treat individuals in the workplace, in schools, and across society. But in the military, where tradition, structure, and operational readiness often take precedence, there are moments when federal civil rights law and military policy come into direct conflict. The cost of these collisions? Justice denied—and lives derailed.

🛑 A Legal Gap You’re Not Supposed to Notice

While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act offer critical protections in civilian life, they don’t fully apply to active-duty service members. That means if you’re injured, become pregnant, or experience discrimination while serving, you may not be protected by the same laws that would safeguard you in any other federal job.

This legal loophole has allowed outdated military policies to remain unchecked—often at the expense of the very people who swore an oath to defend the Constitution.

⚠️ When “Deploy or Get Out” Overrides Civil Rights

Military regulations continue to enforce a “deploy-or-be-discharged” mentality, which disproportionately affects:

• Injured trainees

• Pregnant service members

• Veterans with chronic conditions

• Those with mental health diagnoses like PTSD

Instead of offering reasonable accommodations or career reassignment, many are simply pushed out—often without full benefits, recognition, or due process.

In the civilian world, this would violate labor law. In the military? It’s just standard operating procedure.

🤰 Pregnancy and the Double Standard

One of the clearest examples of this conflict is how pregnant service members are treated. In a civilian job, pregnancy must be accommodated. In the military, pregnancy often leads to immediate discharge if a woman cannot deploy—even if she is otherwise fully capable of serving in a stateside, administrative, or training capacity.

This isn’t just inequitable. It’s discriminatory by any civilian standard.

🔍 Veterans Left Behind

When service members are discharged due to injury, trauma, or pregnancy—especially early in their career—they often don’t meet the time-in-service requirements for full VA benefits. This means:

• No access to VA healthcare

• No mental health services

• No housing support

• No compensation for service-connected conditions

Many of these veterans didn’t want to leave. They were ready to serve in whatever capacity they could—but military policy had no room for flexibility.

🧭 What the #ReasonableRanks Campaign Is Fighting For

The #ReasonableRanks campaign, led by Covenant of Courage, is calling for a modernized approach that brings military policy closer in line with the principles of federal civil rights law.

We demand:

✅ Career reassignment options for non-deployable service members

✅ Recognition of injuries sustained during training

✅ Equitable access to benefits for medically discharged personnel

✅ Accountability when policies cause harm, not protection through legal loopholes

💬 The Constitution Shouldn’t Stop at the Barracks

Our country cannot claim to honor its veterans while using policy loopholes to deny them protection. If the ADA, Title VII, or pregnancy protections are good enough for every other federal employee—they should be good enough for those in uniform, too.

It’s time to close the gap between federal law and military policy. Lives depend on it.

✍️ Get Involved

📝 Sign the Petition → https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

🌐 Learn More → www.covenantofcourage.com

📢 Use Your Voice → Share this article with #ReasonableRanks and help us fight for equal treatment for every service member.