CWO4 Rosa Osborn (Frank), Retired
Rosa Osborn was born Rosa Artiaga, in Queen Creek, Arizona in 1971 and raised primarily in Channelview, Texas. Eight days after graduating high school she was on the yellow footprints at Parris Island. Once asked, why she joined the Marine Corps, she replied that unlike most, she ran away to the Marine Corps to get away from an abusive environment. Why the Marine Corps, because she was told she couldn’t succeed. Failing was not an option. She is a survivor.
Rosa is an honorably discharged veteran from the Marine Corps after 27 years of active service and a Life Member of the WMA. She graduated basic training from Platoon 4026, O Company in 1990 and was meritorious promoted to PFC. After completing Legal Services Specialist School in December 1990 and acquiring the MOS 4421, Legal Specialist, she took leave to marry her high school sweetheart M. Frank.
During her married life with her first husband, she would be stationed at Marine Corps Base (MCB), Camp Pendleton, CA (Dec 1990-1993), III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Okinawa, Japan (1993-1994), 2nd Force Service Support Group (FSSG), Camp Pendleton, CA (1994-1997), and MCB, Okinawa, Japan (1997-2000) and would be a proud mother of a California baby Kasey (1992) and two Okinawa babies from different tours, Cory (1994) and Mike (1998).
In November of 2000, as a sergeant, Rosa was selected to be an instructor at the Legal Specialist School, Camp Johnson, NC. She would only teach a few classes before she was selected to the Warrant Officer Program in 2001. After graduating Warrant Officer Basic Course (TBS) and Legal Administrative Officers Course, and with a new MOS 4430, Legal Administrative Officer, Rosa was transfer to MCB, Camp Lejeune, NC for duty.
From 2001 through 2005, Rosa was stationed at MCB, Camp Lejeune. In 2005, as a single mother of three, Rosa would be transfer to 2nd FSSG to deploy to Iraq. Rosa would be deployed in Al-Taqaddum Air Base (TQ), Iraq from February to October of 2005. On her retuned she was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Miramar, CA for duty. In 2008, Rosa was selected to the Degree Completion Program. Attached to MCB, Camp Lejeune admiratively, she attended classes with Campbell University. In December 2009, Rosa graduated from Campbell University with a Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude honors, degree.
After her graduating from the degree completion program, she would be stationed at MCAS, Cherry Point, MCB, Camp Lejeune, and II MEF, Camp Lejeune. While at II MEF she would be deployed again. Rosa, still a single mother of three, would be deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, II MEF (forward) from February 2011 – February 2012.
In 2010, at the WMA Denver Convention, Rosa discovered her love of uniforms and women’s Marine History. This would later be her passion.
In September 2012 and at MCB, Camp Lejeune, Rosa would marry the love of her life, Robert Osborn. Rosa would remain at Camp Lejeune for several years spearheading the transfer of units from MCB and FSSG (FSSG renamed Marine Logistics Group (MLG)), to what is now Marine Corps Installations East (MCIE). She would remain at MCIE executing her duty as a Regional Legal Administrative Officer until 2016. Unfortunately, in December 2016 Rosa was diagnosed with breast cancer. From February of 2017, Rosa would undergo seven major surgeries including a double mastectomy with reconstruction and a full hysterectomy. She is a survivor. Once given the ALL CLEAR and after 27 years, CWO4 Rosa Osborn submitted her retirement from the Marine Corps. Rosa’s personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3rd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5th Award), and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Several other unit and deployment medals and ribbons were also awarded.
After retirement, Rosa has perused her passion for preserving Women Marine Corps history by collecting Women Marine uniforms and educating by displaying those uniforms. She is always open for uniform donations or purchasing (rosaosorn16@gmail.com). She also enjoys keeping busy with her husband Robert Osborn renovating a fixer up, fishing, and antiquing. She is caring for her mother and oldest daughter Kasey who has also been diagnosed with breast cancer.