Lookout

Warrant Officer Bowers Leads The Way
Warrant Officer Karen Bowers has
taken up the prestigious post of
Station Warrant Officer (SWO) at
Royal Air Force Boulmer.
Warrant Officer Bowers beat some stiff
competition for the job, which is outside of her
normal trade and is an extremely diverse role
where no two days are the same.
As the SWO she is responsible for
maintenance of dress standards,
discipline and deportment of
all personnel on the station
and representing the views and
issues of the junior ranks at station
management level. She is also
responsible for the organisation of
all parade and ceremonial duties,
Station inspections and general
administrative duties.
Warrant Officer Bowers joined
the RAF in 1988 as an Aerospace Systems
Operator, serving tours at RAF Neatishead, RAF
Saxa Vord, RAF High Wycombe, the Gulf and
the Falklands. She also enjoyed a tour at RAF
Boulmer teaching Tactical Data Links (a means
of exchanging digital data over a common
“I have been so
lucky and have
done so many
things I would
not normally
have done”.
By Anne Russell
network) to Tri-Service and NATO students,
which involved travelling to Norway, Portugal
and Germany as well as teaching in the UK.
“Joining the RAF was the only thing I ever
wanted to do. My granddad was a WO1 Rear
Gunner and Wireless Operator in the RAF
during WWII and I was absolutely fascinated
with the stories he used to
tell me about his life in the
service. I idolised him; he was
my inspiration. My mum and
dad also used to take me to air
shows like the one held at RAF St
Mawgan. I knew exactly what I
wanted to do with my life from a
very early age.”
One of the highlights of her
career was serving in Bahrain
during the first Gulf War.
“It was my first operational
tour and it gave me the opportunity to put all
of my training into practice”.
She also remembers the feeling of pride taking
part in the Gulf War victory parade in London in
front of the Royal Family in 1991.
Warrant Officer Karen Bowers has taken over as
Station Warrant Officer at RAF Boulmer.
Giving thanks
for community
support
By Anne Russell
As the nation commemorated the 75th
anniversary of the Battle of Britain
on 15th September, Royal Air Force
Boulmer was privileged to welcome
members of its local community to a
reception in the Officers’ Mess.
Guests of the Station included civic
dignitaries and representatives of the many
Building
relationships
and giving
thanks for
support
organisations throughout
the county with whom
the Station has close ties,
giving RAF personnel
the chance to thank all
those who have provided
tremendous support to the
Station, its people, and their families.
The evening included a Sunset Ceremony
accompanied by music by
the Band of the Fifth Royal
Regiment of Fusiliers and
a parade of RAF Boulmer
personnel, the lowering
of the RAF Ensign and flypasts
from a Typhoon from
RAF Lossiemouth and a
Search and Rescue Sea King
helicopter from ‘A’ Flight
202 Squadron.
Addressing guests, the
Station Commander, Group
Captain Mark Coleman, said:
A scene from the Sunset Ceremony.
“As leaders within your own fields, your
support directly to me, my people and
their families, means I am able to provide
Search and Rescue and an ever-present Air
Command and Control capability in defence
of the homeland. It enables me to generate
and sustain, 24/7, 365 days a year, 10% of the
Station population on overseas operations.
Your backing permits me to hold people at the
highest levels of readiness, able to move within
24 and 48 hours, anywhere in the world, and
capable of operating out of the most extreme
environments. Please do not under-estimate
the significance of your support, and my
gratefulness for your loyalty to the Service, and
to this magnificent station”.
12 THE LOOKOUT