Officer gets award for personnel work
New York Air National Guard Capt. Joshua Bowers of Ballston Lake has received the Adjutant General’s Award in recognition of his work as the military personnel manager of the 5,800member New York Air National Guard.
Bowers earned the award for his handling of the Air Guard’s programs for funding personnel training and travel for five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector. Under his direction, the office managed to speed up the process of implementing orders for personnel on duty from 15 to three days.
He also earned recognition for running two New York Air Guard Commander’s Courses during which 64 officers were trained.
Bowers played a key role in getting New York’s Air Guard involved in the Military Reserve Exchange Program with Germany. While assigned to the109th Airlift Wing, which is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Glenville, he also hosted a German Air Force delegation during a visit to the wing.
The captain also is responsible for managing the travel of four Air National Guard general officers who traveled to four different continents during the past year.
After Bowers graduated from Ballston Spa Central High School in 1997, he enlisted in the active Air Force. He served on active duty in the United States, Korea and Japan for eight years before leaving the active Air Force.
In 2012 he enlisted in the New York Air Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing and served as an LC-130 crew chief.
The airman was commissioned in 2016 after attending officer training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama and became a full-time Air National Guard officer.
Bowers has also served in the 109th Maintenance Squadron as officer-in-charge, and as the wing’s executive officer.
He also has earned his pilot license and runs a part-time business as a flight instructor.
In addition to his recent honor, Bowers also has earned an Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course Outstanding Contributor Award, an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal.
Local chapter honored
The Capital District Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America has earned several MOAA Level of Excellence awards.
The Capital District Chapter received a 4-Star Level of Excellence Award for the second consecutive year for recognition in the areas of legislative advocacy, community engagement and outreach, recruiting and retention, leadership succession, training, and involvement with a state council.
The Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Awards is
MOAA’S annual program identifying councils and chapters that do an outstanding job communicating with their members. The award honors retired Air Force Col. Marvin J. Harris, MOAA’S director of public relations from 1996 until 2011. Col. Harris delivered effective communications to both military and civilian audiences.
The Capital District Chapter also received a 5Star Level of Excellence Award for its newsletter for a sixth consecutive year; its website was also honored with a 5-Star Level of Excellence Award, the fourth time in six years.
“On behalf of our Chapter, I am honored that we have been awarded recognition by national,” said Capital District Chapter President retired Army Lt. Col. Alfred Memole.
“These awards are acknowledgment that our chapter is continuing to serve those who have previously served and are serving now.”
Caribbean duty
Forty-five Latham-based New York Army National Guard soldiers are participating in a 26nation exercise called Exercise Tradewinds 2024.
The exercise, organized each year by the United States Southern Command, is taking place on the island of Barbados and will focus on combating transnational criminal organizations.
The soldiers are members of A Company of the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at the Army Aviation Support Facility adjacent to Albany International Airport.
They are flying four of the company’s 10 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to provide airlift of troops and cargo during the 20-day exercise. The New York National Guard aviators are also providing casualty evacuation and VIP transport.
Training events include air assault raids — fast roping in which troops exit a hovering helicopter by sliding down a rope — and helocasting, in which troops jump from a helicopter into water.
News of your troops and units can be sent via email to brownt@timesunion.com or to Times Union, Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212.