BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Air Reserve Personnel Center’s Casualty Assistance Office plays a vital role in supporting Airmen, Guardians and their families by ensuring the delivery of benefits and entitlements in the wake of a service member’s death or critical incident.
Operating under a mission of compassion, accuracy, and timeliness, the office is responsible for ensuring next-of-kin receive prompt assistance and access to vital support services during some of life’s most difficult moments. Their efforts are not only administrative, but deeply human, preserving dignity while ensuring survivors receive the care they deserve.
A core function of the office is administering a range of benefit programs, including Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, which provides up to $500,000 to eligible beneficiaries. Members enrolled in SGLI at the time of service or up to 120 days after separation or retirement remain covered, ensuring a safety net during transitions.
Additional programs include Family SGLI, which covers spouses for up to $100,000 and dependent children for $10,000 automatically—coverage that extends through age 18, or 22 for full-time students, and indefinitely for fully disabled children.
The Accelerated Benefits Option allows terminally ill members or spouses, with a prognosis of fewer than nine months to live, to access up to 50% of their SGLI or FSGLI benefits early. This ensures families can manage final expenses and urgent financial needs without delay.
For those who experience severe injury due to traumatic events, the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance provides payments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. This program covers all service members enrolled in SGLI, regardless of whether the injury occurred on or off duty.
The Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan offers longer-term security, providing a monthly annuity to the designated beneficiaries of Reserve members who have completed at least 20 years of satisfactory service. Members can tailor their elections based on family structure and financial planning needs.
To fulfill its mission, ARPC coordinates closely with agencies such as the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Air Force Personnel Center Casualty Services, and other military and reserve components. This interagency collaboration ensures seamless delivery of benefits and reduces delays for grieving families.
The Casualty Assistance Office also depends on the expertise of Military Personnel Flights and base-level Casualty Assistance Representatives, who provide face-to-face support and ensure accurate documentation of survivor information.
ARPC encourages all Airmen to proactively update their records to ease the burden on their families should tragedy occur. Key steps include regularly reviewing the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to ensure contact and dependent information is current, and confirming designated beneficiaries through the Servicemembers’ Online Enrollment System.
For those enrolled in RCSBP, life changes such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child require updates within 12 months of the event. Proper documentation—such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree—must accompany required forms to ensure changes are processed accurately.
By maintaining current records and understanding available benefits, Airmen can provide peace of mind to their loved ones and ensure access to the full range of support services offered by the ARPC Casualty Assistance Office. For more information or to update your records, visit your local Force Support Squadron or access SOES via the milConnect portal.