First Sergeant Terrance P. Bowens is from Columbia, South Carolina. He enlisted in the Marine Corps delayed entry program in December 2004 and reported to Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina on 18 January 2005. Following his graduation from Fox Company, Second Recruit Training Battalion, he reported to Delta Company, Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry (SOI) - East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in May 2005, where he earned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0311 Rifleman. Upon graduation on 19 July 2005, Private First Class (PFC) Bowens reported 1St Battalion 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he was assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon as the Platoon Radio Operator.
On 1 October 2005, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and later deployed with the battalion to Afghanistan in support operation Enduring Freedom in January 2006. Lance Corporal Bowens returned to CONUS. On 2 May 2007, he was combat meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving as the 2nd Squad Leader, 2nd platoon, Alpha Company. He was then meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 2 May 2008 after having served as a Corporal for only one year, and subsequently deployed on is third combat tour in August 2008, back to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2009, Sergeant Bowens returned from deployment and reported to Drill Instructor School aboard MCRD, Parris Island, South Carolina. Sergeant Bowens graduated from DI school and was assigned to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Lima Company. Sergeant Bowens served in multiple positions during his tour, including Drill Instructor, Experienced Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Academics Instructor.
In July 2011, Sergeant Bowens completed a successful tour of duty as a Drill Instructor and reported to Marine Corps Base Quantico. Sergeant Bowens served in multiple positions while assigned to MCB Quantico to include Range Patrolman, Range Scheduling NCOIC, Platoon Sergeant, and Physical Training Instructor while assigned as a summer augmentee at the Officer Candidate School (OCS). He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant on 1 October 2014 and executed orders to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While assigned to MCB Camp Lejeune Staff Sergeant Bowens served in multiple positions to include Corporals Course Chief Instructor, Company Gunnery Sergeant, and Battalion Training Chief. In February 2019, Staff Sergeant Bowens reported to Wounded Warrior Battalion-West, Naval Medical Center San Diego-Bravo Detachment for duty as a section leader. While assigned to Wounded Warrior Battalion-West Staff Sergeant Bowens served in multiple positions to include detachment Platoon Sergeant, detachment Gunnery Sergeant, and Section Leader-Instructor. On 1 September 2020 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and subsequently executed orders to I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), G-7/Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG), Amphibious Raids Branch. While assigned to the Raid Branch Gunnery Sergeant Bowens served as the Raid Leaders Course Chief, in which capacity he oversaw the instruction and execution of three West Coast Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Pre-deployment training programs (PTP). In August 2023 Gunnery Sergeant Bowens executed orders to Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH) in New Orleans, LA. While serving with MARFORSOUTH Gunnery sergeant Bowens was assigned as the Current Operations Chief for the Command Operations Center (COC).
On 1 July 2024 he was frocked to the rank of First Sergeant and subsequently executed orders to assume his current duties as the Inspector-Instructor Senior Enlisted leader, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. First Sergeant Bowens personal wards include the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of fourth award), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of fifth award), and the Combat Action Ribbon. First Sergeant Bowens holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from Ashford University and a certification in General Operations Management from Palomar College.