1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support the Smitty Check Act, legislation that would expand mandatory in-person wellness checks for injured or ill service members across the entire Department of Defense. This bill, introduced by Rep. Jodey Arrington and published on March 7, 2026, addresses a critical gap in how we care for those who serve our country. The legislation honors Pvt. 2nd Class Caleb "Smitty" Smither, a Lubbock soldier who died at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 2020. Smither suffered a head injury and returned to his barracks while ill. Despite multiple medical visits in the days leading up to his death, no one physically checked on him for five days. This tragedy was preventable, and it exposed a dangerous oversight in our military's duty of care protocols. Rep. Arrington previously secured Army-specific reforms that created the "Smitty Check" protocol, requiring leadership to monitor service members following an injury or illness. While this was an important first step, the protection was limited to only one branch of our armed forces. The Smitty Check Act would establish a standardized expectation for in-person wellness checks across all military branches, ensuring that sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard members receive the same level of accountability and care that the Army now provides. This legislation establishes a clear standard of in-person verification when a service member is injured, ill, or on sick call, ensuring no one is ever left unaccounted for. Our service members sacrifice so much for our nation. The least we can do is ensure they receive proper monitoring and care when they are most vulnerable. I respectfully ask that you support the Smitty Check Act and work to ensure its swift passage. No family should endure what the Smither family experienced, and no service member should be left alone and unmonitored during a medical crisis.