Sister, brother reenlist at Camp Striker

Photo By Sgt. Scott Wolfe | Pfc. Marlene Banuelos and her older brother, Staff Sgt. Normando Gallardo, hold up their Oath of Enlistment certificates after reenlisting in the U.S. Army for another six years. Both are from El Paso, Texas. Banuelos serves with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and Gallardo serves with Company A, 40th Electronic Signal Brigade, in Balad.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.10.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

By Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

BAGHDAD – It's not unusual for Soldiers to reenlist while deployed to Iraq. In fact, with all the incentives, it is common place. For two Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers however, reenlisting together during a special reenlistment ceremony, Dec. 7, at Camp Striker, Iraq, proved to truly be an Army "family" adventure.

Such was the case for Staff Sgt. Normando Gallardo, who, along with his sister, Pfc. Marlene Banuelos, made the commitment to stay with their Army family for six more years during a ceremony at the headquarters of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. And overseeing the family gathering was none other than Col. Pat White, the Iron Brigade's commander, who is a native of Apple Valley, Calif.

Gallardo and Banuelos, both of whom are natives of El Paso, Texas, are serving together in Iraq, albeit at different bases. Gallardo serves with Company A, 40th Electronic Signal Brigade, which is based in Balad. Banuelos serves with the 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., at Camp Striker.

It was perhaps fitting for the siblings to reenlist together, since the two have been influential to each other. Banuelos said she had initially intended on joining the Navy. However, things didn't work out as initially planned and she changed her mind and decided to join her brother in the Army. In fact, he was at the wheel when she went to speak with the Army recruiter about enlisting. Almost two years later, he was there again when she raised her right hand and committed herself to staying with the team.

"It was her own decision," he said, speaking of the day he took her to the recruiter. "She couldn't go Navy, so I told her I could take her down to the Army Recruiter."

Gallardo, a cable system installer, has reenlisted for the sixth and what he says will be his final time in his career. With 15 years in the army, he has his sister beat by a few years both in service and age.

"I'm 22, he's 35. There are 13 years between us," said the younger sister with just a hint of tease in her voice.

Banuelos, who signed her second enlistment contract, serves as a gunner with the command security detail team for the brigade's command sergeant major.

Gallardo said his younger sister had the final word on when the two would commit to their new service obligations.

"I had to call her up to ask when she wanted to do this," he quipped.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2008
• Date Posted: 12.10.2008 09:43
• Story ID: 27452
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ