A brother in arms

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jackie Sanders | Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexandra Becerra and her brother, Senior Airman Andrew Murillo, sit on the boardwalk at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, spending their down time together Sept. 7, 2013. Becerra works medical logistics at the Role 3 Medical Clinic and Murillo is an aerial porter for the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing. Both are deployed to KAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Sanders)  

AFGHANISTAN

10.22.2013

Story by Senior Airman Jackie Sanders 

451st Air Expeditionary Wing

AFGHANISTAN - Regardless of what drove them to service, one benefit of having family in the military is the rare and unique opportunities that allow family members to serve with one another.

For Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexandra Becerra, running into her brother, Senior Airman Andrew Murillo, while deployed was something they’d planned.

“I think in January 2012, I was up for orders to go to a new command, and my detailer said that I could volunteer to come out here, and I figured it would be pretty cool to come here at least once before we pull out,” Becerra said. “I just wanted to get this under my belt so I volunteered to come here.”

“Last year they told us we were going to either Kandahar or (and undisclosed location), since I’m in a Reserve unit,” Murillo said. For many families military service is a tradition; for some it can be a legacy handed down from father to son or daughter; for others it’s seen as a rite of passage; and in others merely a coincidence.

“Then they put me on the (undisclosed location) deployment, but I’d just found out she was here, so I asked to make the switch so I can be here with her.”

The two met up toward the end of Becerra’s tour and the beginning of Murillo’s time, but made the effort during their cross over to catch up. Becerra works as medical logistics at the Role 3 clinic and Murillo is an aerial porter with the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing.

“Today is both of our days off so we’re going to hang out,” Becerra said.

Murillo and Becerra agreed that sharing a deployment and being part of the military is a unique experience that they both enjoy.

“It’s definitely cool, and it’s a privilege because when we’re older we can look back and say, ‘Hey we served together. ‘ It’ll be a nice story to tell the kids someday,” Becerra said.

“Especially our younger sisters, they look up to us, and now I have a couple of buddies asking me questions because they want to join now too,” Murillo said.

While they said they worry about the other’s safety at times, the company of family makes their deployments more palatable.

“You’ve got to make it fun out here,” Murillo said. “But, it’s weird because with her here it almost feels like we’re at home sometimes.”

• Date Taken: 10.22.2013
• Date Posted: 10.22.2013 04:15
• Story ID: 115514
• Location: AF