130 Years of Family Serving Family: Bonita Jewett, Selfridge ANG Exchange

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 130 years of family serving family 

Who she is: Bonita Jewett, Tri-Service Military Clothing store manager, Selfridge Air National Guard Base

Years at the Exchange: 40

Family connections: Bonita and her family have a deep-rooted commitment to serving those who serve. Her husband, Clayton Jewett Jr., is a retired Airman, while her son Christopher carries on the legacy as an active-duty Airman stationed at Yokota Air Base in Japan.

Her other son, Clayton III, applies his expertise at the Exchange as a customer service experience specialist in the firearms department at Selfridge ANG. Her daughter, Tianna, also contributed to the mission as a former Exchange softlines associate for three years at Selfridge. Continuing the family’s tradition of service, Bonita’s brother-in-law served in the Army and his children followed in his footsteps. His daughter is a retired Soldier while his son serves in the Navy.

Family plays a central role in Jewett’s life—whether it’s the one she’s built or the connections she’s made through the Exchange. She proudly wore an “Air Force Mom” patch during her Family Serving Family interview, reflecting her deep pride in her son’s commitment to service.

What brought her to the Exchange: Jewett’s journey with the Exchange began in 1985 when she was hired to help work in the first Burger King at the Aviano BX in Italy after marrying her husband, who was stationed at Aviano AB.

“I wanted to engage and learn about the base community,” said Jewett “My husband encouraged me to reach out [to apply], and I ended up joining the Italy Exchange team.”

Following their time in Italy, the family PCS’ed to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where Jewett served as a food court foreman for three years before relocating to her husband’s final duty station, Selfridge ANG in Harrison Township, Michigan—a place she has called home since 2010.

Unique experiences as a military spouse and parent: Jewett fondly recalled marrying her high school sweetheart in Italy, describing the experience as “romantic, but unconventional.” The ceremony took place in an Italian courthouse surrounded by the country’s rich culture while her husband’s best friend translated the ceremony as the justice of the peace only spoke Italian. Jewett knew the challenges of being a military spouse but embraced the challenges while traveling to various parts of the world by her husband’s side with her growing family. She served as an integral part of the military community as she recalls hosting holiday gatherings for individuals who had spouses who serve as part of the installation’s Security Forces.

Favorite part of the job: When asked what her favorite part of the job is, she replied with “making an impact.” She has served others in moments that truly mattered with uniform fittings for funeral services and even stepping in when it counted most, such as the time she helped a customer replace a lost uniform for their wedding after an airline misplaced it in transit.

The Exchange has given Jewett opportunities to learn, grow and connect with notable figures, including the Tuskegee Airmen and television personalities. Among her most memorable moments was assisting retired Vietnam War-era Lt. Col. Charles Kettles in 2016 with his uniform fitting before he received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama and watching him wear the uniform on television.

Jewett has also played an instrumental role in honoring Veterans, hosting “Welcome Home” events for Vietnam War-era Veterans. Understanding that many Veterans did not receive the proper recognition upon returning home, she felt compelled to create a more meaningful experience beyond a traditional ceremony.

During the Selfridge ANG Exchange’s 2025 Welcome Home event, military personnel were stationed at the entrance and shook every Veteran’s hand, thanked them for their service and told them “Welcome home.” Jewett recalls the many tissues used during this ceremony and how touching the gesture was for Veterans, service members and associates. She also recognized that some Veterans in the area were unable to attend the event because they had not retired from the military, so once there was direction to allow those Veterans on base to attend, she formed relationships with base command in what she refers to as “taking care of our troops.”

“I want people to know that it’s more than just a job,” said Jewett. “I do not take any of this [serving those who serve] lightly.”

Integrating the Exchange into the Jewett Family: Jewett’s family has embraced the Exchange community wholeheartedly. Her 7-year-old granddaughter, Brielle Marie Jewett-Williams, has become what she affectionately calls a “mini–Exchange ambassador,” always welcoming military children with warmth and enthusiasm at Exchange events.

Reflecting on the early years of her career, Jewett cherishes the moments she shared with her children at the Exchange, showing them firsthand the variety of roles she has taken on over the years. She credits God, her parents, the military, leadership, being the sixth child of seven and her Christian values for instilling a strong sense of discipline and service in her children.

“I’m proud of the people they’re becoming.”

Lessons Learned: Jewett believes working at the Exchange and as a Military Clothing manager for almost half of her career has allowed her to learn the importance of building relationships, active listening and spreading a little laughter along the way. “A little humor can break the ice and praising others creates a positive atmosphere,” Jewett said. “These lessons are dear to me. I’m grateful for the people who’ve poured into me, and I hope I’ve done the same for others, making a positive impact wherever I go.”

Family Serving Family: Jewett believes that “Family Serving Family” takes on a special meaning by supporting Warfighters and associates by equipping them with guidance and treating them with care.

“You’re helping them [customers] feel more confident and prepared, which can make a big difference in their overall experience. We’ve got to take care of each other,” Jewett said. “Make time to enjoy the journey, find moments to be happy, because every day brings new opportunities. That’s all it’s about.”