Greenwich National Guard Officer Enlists Son in Air National Guard

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Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Bowden enlists son Jesse Bowden in New York Air National Guard Oct. 6 at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia.

LATHAM, NY (10/08/2010)(readMedia)-- Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Bowden, a Greenwich resident and veteran of the New York Army National Guard who recently deployed to Afghanistan, enlisted his son Jesse in the New York Air National Guard on Oct. 6 at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia.

Jesse Bowden, has enlisted in the 109th Airlift Wing and will leave for Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland, Air Force Base, Texas after completing the current semester at Adirondack Community College. Jesse, age 18, was home schooled by his mother Andrea Bowden.

He elected to join the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard because he wanted to participate in the wing's unique missions to Antarctica and Greenland in support of the National Science Foundation.

CW 2 David Bowden, a 15-year veteran of the Army National Guard, is a pilot for the New York State Police in civilian life and serves as a member of the fixed-wing aviation detachment of the New York Army National Guard which operates a C-12 passenger plan at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 in Latham.

He returned from Afghanistan in March 2010 where he flew C-12s configured as surveillance aircraft as part of Task Force ODIN, and Army team which helps detect improvised explosive devices from the air.

"I was honored, as an Army officer, to have the opportunity to swear my son into the military," Bowden said. " That day will be one of the most memorable days for both Jesse and I."

" I am proud to see that my son Jesse will be part of one of the best flight crews in the world. He will receive training as a loadmast4er and be part of a unique mission gaining life experience," Bowden said.