The Feres Doctrine

The Feres Doctrine is a legal principle in the United States that prevents military personnel from suing the government for injuries that occur while they are on active duty. Established by the Supreme Court in 1950, the doctrine holds that service members are covered by military regulations and benefits, rather than the civil courts. This means they cannot seek compensation for damages or injuries related to their service, even if negligence is involved. The rationale is to maintain military discipline and readiness by limiting the legal actions available to active-duty military personnel.