An Air Force officer bravely stepped forward to confront the injustices that plagued her fellow service members, only to find herself in the crosshairs.
This is yet another instance of a service member voicing concerns regarding misconduct within their command, which included accusations of toxic leadership, favoritism, harassment, and a failure in accountability, only to encounter harsh retaliation for speaking up.
The Gateway Pundit spoke to Lt. Col. Natalie A. Rowell of the California Air National Guard. With 33 years of service to the country, she most recently held the position of 195th Force Support Flight Commander at Beale Air Force Base.
From this position, she observed various troubling issues named above. Throughout the years, she had consistently dedicated herself to enhancing the military. Consequently, she views herself as having been “a whistleblower entrenched in California for quite some time.”
In September 2024, she brought one of her concerns to Major General Matthew P. Beevers, the Adjutant General overseeing the California National Guard and the entire California Military Department, which includes both Army and Air National Guard units.
She conveyed that his Selective Retention Review Board (SRRB) was not being carried out appropriately. The SRRB is a committee assembled by the military to assess the records of service members who are eligible for ongoing service but may not be retained. This process can be initiated due to reasons such as length of service, force restructuring, or particular performance issues, and is not intended for punitive measures.
“It was affecting people, even to the point that some were suicidal,” she disclosed, stressing that this was the reason she felt compelled to voice her concerns.
Hellbound and Down 