The DeRito Act and the Fight for Military Justice | Adam DeRito- S.O.S #211

In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, decorated veteran and military justice reform advocate Adam DeRito takes us through his remarkable journey from Air Force Academy cadet to the frontlines of a battle few civilians understand: the fight against military retaliation.

Adam's story begins with his post-9/11 commitment to service, arriving at the Air Force Academy with real-world experience as a firefighter and EMT. After becoming an OSI confidential informant reporting cadet misconduct, his life took a devastating turn when he experienced sexual assault off-campus—and faced dismissal rather than support from his command. What followed was a systematic campaign of retaliation culminating in falsified medical records dated after he'd already left the Academy, an illegal tactic designed to permanently block his military career.

Despite these obstacles, Adam persevered through multiple administrative appeals, federal court battles, and political advocacy while continuing to serve in the National Guard and Army Reserves. His experiences led him to draft the Military Mental Health Protection and Justice Act (known informally as the "DeRito Act"), which would prevent commanders from weaponizing command-directed evaluations against service members who report misconduct.

The conversation exposes critical gaps in military accountability where commanders operate with minimal oversight, creating a chilling effect that damages readiness and unit cohesion. Adam's documentation of his case—including medical records falsified by someone without proper licensing—reveals how military mental health evaluations can be weaponized to silence whistleblowers and assault survivors.

For anyone concerned about veterans' rights, military readiness, or constitutional protections, this episode provides rare insight into how our military justice system actually operates and why reforms like the DeRito Act are desperately needed. Visit adamdorito.com to review the evidence and join the fight for accountability that affects thousands of service members.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation as we shine a light on the systemic issues facing our service members—and those fighting to change them.

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