It's time: Declare that those who have served & suffered are a blessing – not a burden

For at least two decades, injured military service members have been "wrongfully discharged by the Department of Defense, and stripped of their benefits, honors, and dignity," according to Uniformed Services Justice & Advocacy Group (USJAG). Those individuals' injuries come in many forms, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), missing limbs, burns, and more.

While coping with these injuries, some choose to self-medicate; some even act out criminally. But instead of being helped with their problems or processed for medical retirement, many are simply chaptered out of the military for these minor infractions.

American Family News spoke to Air Force Col. (ret.) Rob Maness, a former bomber squadron commander who served the U.S. military for over 30 years. Prior to his retirement from active duty in 2011, Maness held a wing commander position that granted him court-martial authority. He tells AFN he has seen too many discharges to count.