Some journeys are shaped by moments that force you to decide whether to keep hiding or start rebuilding. For Tyler Bowser, that journey has included military service, unimaginable loss, addiction, homelessness, recovery, faith, and ultimately a new purpose serving fellow veterans. After growing up in Southern California and following his grandfather and brother into military service, Tyler joined the Air Force, where he found a sense of belonging, mission, and community that would stay with him long after leaving active duty.
In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, sponsored by CareSource Military & Veterans, host Lloyd Knight sits down with Tyler Bowser, Program Director for Connecting Georgia Veterans, to discuss the experiences that shaped his life and his path back from its lowest point. Tyler reflects on his time in the Air Force, deploying to Kuwait, transitioning into the civilian workforce, losing his daughter Taylor Kate to spinal muscular atrophy, and returning overseas as a contractor in Afghanistan. He also shares how attending more than 40 fallen comrade ceremonies made him realize that he was not healing from his pain, he was hiding from it.
They also discuss Tyler’s struggle with alcohol, homelessness, and undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and the moment in 2016 when he decided his life had to change. Tyler shares how support from the VA, Veterans Empowerment Organization, his faith, recovery community, and relationships helped him rebuild. Today, he leads Connecting Georgia Veterans, helping veterans access resources and benefits through the Vector Center and working to remove the barriers that can prevent people in crisis from getting the help they need.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(01:32) Growing up in Southern California
(03:05) Why Tyler chose the Air Force
(05:56) Deploying to Kuwait
(07:58) Why he left the Air Force
(09:03) Early success and setbacks after service
(12:15) Losing his daughter
(17:09) Struggling after divorce and loss
(19:01) Returning to the mission in Afghanistan
(20:21) The fallen comrade ceremonies that changed him
(23:13) Addiction, arrests, and losing everything
(24:30) Becoming homeless in Atlanta
(26:10) The moment Tyler decided to change
(27:30) Beginning recovery through veteran support
(29:00) Turning his story into service
(36:18) Rebuilding family and relationships
(41:37) Leading Connecting Georgia Veterans
(45:02) Tyler’s advice to veterans who are struggling
Additional Links & Resources:
Tango Tango is proudly sponsored by Supply Chain Now and CareSource Military & Veterans. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/from-rock-bottom-to-purpose-tyler-bowsers-path-to-healing
