From the Frontline: Capt. Michael Boswell

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  "From the Frontline" is a weekly column highlighting currently deployed Team Whiteman members, or those who have recently returned from deployment. This week's deployed member is Capt. Michael Boswell.

It would be easy to say that aircraft take servicemembers back and forth from their overseas deployed locations, and that the cargo used to support their mission finds its way to its final destination by the same means, but, their movement within the United States Air Force Central Command area of responsibility is a little more complicated than that.

Captain Boswell is currently deployed to Southwest Asia to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron as the Deployment and Distribution Flight commander and installation deployment officer.

As the IDO, he directs, controls and coordinates installation deployments and redeployments for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and United States Air Force Central Command area of responsibility, as directed by the 379th AEW commander and USAFCENT. He also manages the installation's cargo reception and distribution center as well as the passenger travel element for the 379th and several forwarding operating bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Here at the 379th, I am responsible for 80 percent of the (USAFCENT) deployers and re-deployers," said Captain Boswell. "On a day-to-day basis, I coordinate with half a dozen forward operating bases, in order to ensure the safe and expedient deployment and re-deployment of Airmen in the AOR."

In addition to people, the captain is also responsible for the cargo movement section, one of the largest in AFCENT.  On average, the section processes and ships more than 30,000 short tons of cargo throughout the AFCENT AOR monthly, he said.

Captain Boswell's duties at home are very similar to those in the AOR. Prior to his deployment, he was the IDO and the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron D-Flight commander. However, while deployed his responsibilities are on a much larger scale and the demands of his deployed environment are incredibly challenging, he said.

"The best part about my deployment is meeting new people every single day," he said.

Nonetheless, Captain Boswell said he misses everything about Whiteman.

"Most importantly, I miss my beautiful wife, Capt. Charlotte Boswell and my little girl, Kaia," he said. "I am quickly approaching the 10 month point  in the AOR, and there is nothing like Whiteman. I am ready to be back in Knob Noster, Mo., at the 509th LRS, and with my wonderful family."

Capt. Boswell thanks everyone at Whiteman for their thoughts, prayer, and support and offers some words of advice.

"Take life moment by moment and enjoy everything around you," Captain Boswell concluded. "God bless, and I will see everyone in February 2010."