The United States Air Force Academy, one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions for developing the next generation of military leaders, has been struck by an unimaginable tragedy. Among the cadets dedicated to service, discipline, and excellence, one shone particularly brightly: Avery Koonce, a nineteen-year-old first-year cadet from Tyler, Texas. Avery was discovered unresponsive in her dormitory room in Colorado Springs, leaving her fellow cadets, instructors, and the broader Academy community in deep shock. Her death was sudden, heartbreaking, and entirely preventable—a stark reminder that even the strongest and most promising individuals are vulnerable to the unforeseen dangers of untreated illness.
