Why Medical Discharges Often Fail Our Heroes
- Kirk Carlson
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
By Kirk Carlson, USMC Veteran and Founder, Covenant of Courage
When we think of wounded heroes, we often picture service members who were injured in combat — those whose sacrifice is publicly honored with medals, salutes, and solemn ceremonies. But what about the thousands who are quietly discharged for medical reasons after injuries sustained during training or day-to-day military duties? Many of these men and women are left behind by a system that too often prioritizes readiness over rehabilitation, and bureaucracy over human dignity.
A System Designed to Discard
Medical discharges are meant to provide a safety net for those who are no longer physically able to perform their original duties. But in practice, they can feel more like a trapdoor — an abrupt exit with little preparation, support, or transition planning. Service members who are medically discharged may receive limited benefits, face delays in care, or worse — be denied the resources they need altogether.
For many, this experience feels like being written off. One injury, even a treatable or manageable one, can end a promising career. Rather than being offered reassignment or rehabilitation, injured troops are often processed out with speed and silence. It’s a quiet form of rejection that leaves long-lasting scars — emotional, financial, and professional.
The Double Standard of Service
In the civilian world, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects workers from discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations. But in the military, these principles don’t always apply. There is no consistent framework for reassignment or accommodation based on injury. If you’re not deployable, you’re often deemed disposable — even if you’re still capable of serving in valuable, non-combat roles.
This contradiction is not just unjust — it’s inefficient. The military loses skilled personnel with years of training and experience. Meanwhile, veterans are thrust into civilian life with untreated trauma, unclear benefits, and the burden of starting over from scratch.
A Missed Opportunity for Reform
What if, instead of discharge, we offered reassignment? What if the military created meaningful, mission-aligned roles for those recovering from physical or mental injury? Logistics, training, counseling, administration, cybersecurity — these are vital parts of military operations that don’t require combat readiness but still benefit from the insight and experience of prior service.
Veterans are already proving this model works in the civilian world. Many who were discharged for medical reasons go on to become educators, engineers, public servants, entrepreneurs, and advocates. They didn’t lose their ability to serve — they just lost their opportunity.
A Path Toward Justice and Inclusion
It’s time we built a more humane system that honors every form of service. The #ReasonableRanks movement, led by veterans and advocates across the country, is calling for military policy reform that aligns more closely with civilian disability law and modern principles of inclusion.
This includes:
Offering career reassignment before discharge for non-deployable but capable troops
Creating rehabilitation and retraining pathways within the military
Applying ADA-style protections where possible, without compromising mission integrity
Ensuring fair evaluations and appeals for service members facing medical discharge
Conclusion
America’s promise to its service members must extend beyond the battlefield. We owe our heroes more than a handshake and a DD-214. We owe them dignity, opportunity, and the chance to continue serving — even if it looks different than how they began.
It’s time to move from discharge to dignity. Let’s fix the policy gaps that are failing our heroes and finally give injured service members the respect, options, and justice they deserve.
🔗 Learn more at: www.ReasonableRanks.org
🖊️ Sign the petition: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR
📣 Join the movement. Share their stories. Demand reform.
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