Jessica Swan’s daughter Mackenzie, a bright and talented young woman with dreams of becoming a scientist, tragically lost her life during an Air Force cadet development trip in 2022. As a result of the accident, Swan faced significant financial strain due to lack of death benefits available to families of ROTC cadets like Mackenzie. Similarly, Manny Vega, a Marine veteran who lost his son Patrick during boot camp, experienced frustrations with the military’s response and lack of support for families of fallen service members. These experiences drove Vega to advocate for policy changes and support for families who have suffered similar losses.
Vega’s advocacy efforts led him to connect with Rep. Salud Carbajal and Rep. Michael Waltz to push for a bill that would expand access to military death benefits for families of ROTC cadets and delayed-entry soldiers. This legislation, included in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, aims to extend benefits like death gratuity and casualty assistance to families of ROTC cadets who die in official training events. Additionally, an amendment sponsored by Carbajal would make Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance eligibility available to third- and fourth-year ROTC cadets and delayed-entry program soldiers. The bipartisan support for these measures underscores the urgency of addressing the gaps in benefits and support for families of fallen service members.
For Swan, the potential policy change offers a silver lining in the wake of her daughter’s tragic death. She believes that if the new legislation helps prevent other families from experiencing the financial and emotional hardships she faced, it would make Mackenzie’s death feel less in vain. The enactment of these laws would provide much-needed relief and support to families like Swan’s and Vega’s, who have been vocal advocates for changes within the military system. The common goal of ensuring that families of fallen service members receive the support they deserve drives these advocates to reach out to lawmakers and share their experiences to bring about meaningful change.
The personal connection that lawmakers like Carbajal and Waltz have to military service and the ROTC program fuels their commitment to addressing the disparities in benefits for families of ROTC cadets and delayed-entry soldiers. By drawing on their own experiences in the military, these lawmakers recognize the importance of supporting families who have made sacrifices for their country. The efforts to pass legislation that extends benefits to these families reflect a shared desire to serve a cause larger than themselves and prioritize the well-being of military families over political differences.
The emotional toll of losing a loved one in military service, coupled with the financial burdens that families face, underscores the urgent need for reforms within the military support system. Families like Swan’s and Vega’s have been at the forefront of advocating for change and raising awareness about the gaps in benefits for ROTC cadets and delayed-entry soldiers. The bipartisan support for legislation that extends death benefits to these families highlights the collaborative effort to honor the sacrifices made by service members and their families. By striving to address these inequities, lawmakers and advocates aim to ensure that families of fallen service members receive the support and recognition they deserve.
