--- title: "Army brat and actress Tia Mowry partners with USAA on safe driving" description: "From cult-classic 90’s show Sister Sister or starring roles in critically acclaimed feature films, Tia Mowry’s face is a familiar one." date: "2021-10-05" modified: "2021-10-05" authors: - name: "Jessica Manfre" job_title: "Coast Guard Spouse, Contributor" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/jessicamanfre/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-stories/self-proclaimed-army-brat-and-actress-tia-mowry-partners-with-usaa-on-safe-driving/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Movies and TV" tags: - "Army" - "USAA" --- # Army brat and actress Tia Mowry partners with USAA on safe driving ![]() *(Photo courtesy of Tia Mowry)* From the 1990s cult-comedy favorite "Sister, Sister" to starring roles in other projects, Tia Mowry’s face is a familiar one. And it’s her time as a military brat that she credits for it all. Her parents, Timothy and Darlene, were just 18 years old when they married and enlisted in the Army together in 1975. Mowry and her identical twin sister, Tamera, were born on an Army base in Gelnhausen, Germany. With both parents being soldiers, they moved frequently and lived in such places as bases in Hawaii and on Fort Hood, Texas. **Also Read: [Fort Knox went all Hollywood during filming of a military comedy classic]()** After Mowry's mother left the service, she relocated her children to California so Mowry and her sister could pursue acting. After 20 years of service, her father retired from the Army as a sergeant. “I believe they had deep values instilled with them while serving, and that is basically a part of my genetic makeup today,” Tia Mowry said. “Having character, integrity, and just my work ethic. I work really hard.” ### "Part of Who I Am Today" ![Tia Mowry]() *Darleen and Timothy Mowry enlist in the Army in 1975. (Photo courtesy of Tia Mowry)* She still remembers witnessing her parents getting up before dawn to shine their boots and iron their uniforms. Mowry also laughingly credited them for her bed-making skills. “It’s a part of who I am today. Moving around also really helped me become a social butterfly,” she added. “It’s really helped me with my career and who I am as a person.” The struggle of always being the new kid in the middle of the school year wasn’t easy, but for Mowry, it was an opportunity to grow. And she blossomed. Long before hit television shows or movies, she and her sister got their start performing on military bases. In 2018, Mowry co-starred in her first military film, ["Indivisible]()," based on the true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife, Heather. The movie brings viewers through not only the couple’s experience through a tough deployment to war-torn Iraq, but also the families around them, too. Playing Army spouse Tonya Lewis in "Indivisible" was a memorabe experience, Mowry said. “It was so great to be able to work with the cast and crew that were so respectful of the community, and I felt privileged to shine a light on post-traumatic stress,” she shared. ### Driving Safely Because of Her Children Mowry holds her military roots close and is also a proud member of USAA. She said she’s always looking for ways to support the military community, and when USAA came out with its safe-driving campaign, she was all in. [In a public Instagram post](), Mowry shared two big reasons for getting behind the campaign: her children. “It is a narrative that is extremely important to me,” she said. “I love that they \[USAA\] celebrate safe-driving styles like me being a straight-to-voicemailer.” When Mowry gets into the car, her smartphone automatically recognizes it and switches to “do not disturb” mode. Anyone who texts her gets a notification of it, and all calls are forwarded to voicemail. “Now more than ever, it’s really important that we encourage people to focus on the road,” she said. In 2019, USAA shared [numbers]() that revealed 3,142 people were killed and 28,000 injured due to driving distractions. As the United States opens up again after COVID-19 travel restrictions were eased, roads will be busy. It’s a timely campaign to remind drivers to be safe. ### Knowing How to Salute Properly !["Sister, Sister"]() *Tamera Mowry-Housley and Tia Mowry in the 1990s comedy 'Sister, Sister.' (Paramount Pictures)* As a family member of a veteran, Mowry said she’s grateful to be able to be a part of USAA. “My dad is a member and has been a member for years," she said. "He trusts them, and whatever my dad trusts, I trust. But personally what I really love is that they respect and understand people serving their country." Though Mowry may be known for her Hollywood career, the reiminents of a military upbringing are front and center. So what would readers be surprised to learn about Mowry and the military kid-isms she carried with her? “For my dad, it was really important that I knew how to salute properly,” she said with a laugh. *And* she can definitely shine boots and make a bed while "yes, sir’ing" and "yes, ma’am’ing" with the best of them. More than that, Mowry is proud of what being a “military brat” brought to her life and how those lessons carry on through her own children. “My mother and father always taught me it's the little things that count,” Mowry said. “It’s all about respecting yourself and others so when it's time to approach the bigger things or scenarios, you are prepared.” For her, it started with shining shoes, sharp creases, and respect. To learn more about USAA and the organization’s commitment to encouraging safe driving, [click here](). ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty ##### **• [It’s official: ‘Top Gun 3’ is in development]()** ##### **• [How friendly fire could have killed Scotty from ‘Star Trek’ on D-Day]()** ##### **• [How ‘Major Payne’ became a Marine Corps comedy classic]()** ## Author Jessica is a clinical social worker, writer, and military advocate whose work for We Are The Mighty focuses on the lived realities of military service, especially the moments that come after the uniform comes off. Her writing centers on veterans, military spouses, and families navigating transition, identity, resilience, and healing, often blending clinical insight with deeply human storytelling. She covers leadership, service, community impact, and the cultural shifts shaping today’s military-connected population, frequently drawing from interviews with senior military leaders, influencers, and grassroots voices across the space. Beyond writing, Jessica serves as Director of MilSpouseFest and works as a Military Events Manager, leading national campaigns and large-scale events that bring military communities together. She is the author of Never Alone (Moody Publishers) and is currently developing her next book, After the Battle. When she’s not writing or advocating, Jessica can usually be found with a good cup of coffee in hand, tackling her ever-growing TBR, hiking with her dog, or spending quality time with her family. She is a proud military spouse of an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard member and draws inspiration from the resilience, humor, and heart of military life every day. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]()