BLACK VERERANS' INSIGHT ON RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS (2025)
Based on 26 semi-structured interviews with Black military Veterans, this report explores common challenges and shared experiences across generations and military branches. Published in the Journal of Veterans Studies (Virginia Tech Publishing). Special thanks to our study partners the Yale School of Public Health, Richard Brookshire, and the Black Veterans Project.
This study was conducted with support from Fairfield County Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
DISCRETIONARY INJUSTICE
How Racial Disparities in the Military’s Administrative Separation System Harm Black Veterans (2022)
Based on more than 1 million military records between 2014-2020, this report shows that Black service members are up to two times as likely as white service members to receive a less than honorable discharge, blocking them from receiving the benefits they have earned. Published in partnership with the Black Veterans Project.
GATEKEEPERS TO OPPORTUNITY
Racial Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academies (2021)
Analyzing application data from 1994-2020, this report shows that white students are significantly overrepresented in congressional nominations for military academies, with members of Congress–on both sides of the aisle–providing only 6% of nominations to Black students and 8% to Hispanic students. Published in partnership with the Veterans Legal Clinic at Yale Law School.
GATEKEEPERS TO OPPORTUNITY
Gender Disparities in Congressional Nominations to the Military Service Academies (2021)
This report shows that in every year since 1995, women have never exceeded 27% of the nominees of current members of Congress to the military service academies.
Military Discharge Upgrade: Legal Practice Manual (2021)
This landmark publication—the first of its kind in 30 years—enables advocates to successfully represent Veterans who unjustly received less-than-honorable or other stigmatizing discharges. Written by attorneys from the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School’s Veterans Legal Clinic and Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, this book helps bring honor and life-altering benefits to Veterans. Published by the American Bar Association.
The Military Discharge Upgrade Legal Practice Manual work was funded in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted Veterans, service members, their families, and their caregivers thrive long after they return home.
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(top of page) Alden Pinkham, CVLC Staff Attorney and Policy Analyst. Photo by Desirea Stott-Rodgers Photography.
(bottom of page) Charles McClain, Veteran and former client (left) and Robert Lagrua, Veteran and former client (right). Photos by Desirea Stott-Rodgers Photography.