Bowen retires after 32-year military career Published Jan. 31, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Mission support Airmen are those who serve behind the scenes, making sure operations, maintenance and other Airmen are taken care of so they can focus on completing the Air Force mission, which is "To fly, fight and win in air, space and cyperspace." In a fitting tribute to a career dedicated to that service, Col. Betty Bowen, 434th Mission Support Group commander, was surrounded by family, friends and those who she served during her final commander's call Jan. 6. She officially retired on Jan. 31. During that commander's call, Bowen thanked several people, including her husband Bradford and son Mark for the sacrifices they made in support of her career. According to Bowen, her husband sacrificed his own military career and was never able to retire as he supported her, moving around the country each time she took a new assignment. To honor that sacrifice, the colonel presented her husband with a certificate of appreciation, a Military Spouse Medal and a military shadow box filled with items from his military career, something he would have received had he been able to retire. During that same commander's call, Bowen recalled her entire career and many accomplishments, which she attributed to those with whom she served. Bowen received her commission in 1980 through Officer Training School after graduating from West Chester University, Pa., with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education and was assigned to the 3700th Personnel Resources Group, Lackland Air Force Base Texas. In 1984, she transferred to the Air Force Reserve where she has supervised the mobilization and demobilization processing of over 4,700 reservists during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. She has also coordinated logistical and security support for 15 President of the United States visits, and was hand-selected to orchestrate a solid base realignment and closure plan at General Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wisc. In her role as the 434th MSG, Bowen was responsible for supporting the mission of the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command through a variety of functions including infrastructure, services, logistics, personnel, communications, contracting and security. "The thing I'm most proud of is the teamwork we found here as people pulled together and became one big team instead of small little diverse areas within the support group," said Bowen, who came to the 434th MSG in 2008, shortly after the support group had not performed well during an operational readiness inspection. "In 2005, there were nine marginals and five unsatisfactories during the ORI," she recalled. "We were still answering right ups when I got here." But, Bowen didn't let that get her or her people down as she rallied the troops and focused on team building. "I said, 'OK guys, we're going to rebuild,' and that's when people got energized and they saw how important their jobs really were," she recalled. "And, I think we really became a family when people started to realize how important they were within the wing." Bowen's strategy proved itself in the 2010 ORI with every 434th MSG unit receiving a passing grade or higher. "I think the thing I'll take away the most is the teamwork," she said. "We have twelve different entities and everybody was doing well in their specific areas, but we all really came together as the support group entity and used our amazing resources together." Looking ahead, Bowen said she's excited for her future and the future of the 434th MSG. "I'm excited for new adventures, and I know our people are going to continue doing amazing things here," she concluded. The 434th MSG is a part of the 434th ARW. 434th Airmen routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Twitter and Facebook.
