PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - There is often mention of a "brotherhood" that exists among servicemembers. Members of the military often talk about their unit forming family-like bonds while engaged in military operations at home and abroad.
For two Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team members, that brotherhood runs deeper than any uniform or exercise.
It is literally blood-deep.
Spc. Brandon Sitton, a gunner, and his brother, Pfc. Joshua Sitton, a driver, from Graycourt, S.C., are currently deployed together as members of the security force element for the Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team's Orgun detachment.
The mission of the Paktika PRT is to assist in the stabilization and security of Paktika province, a large province located on the eastern Afghan border near the Pakistan tribal areas. However, rather than going out and actively combating insurgent activity, the PRT focuses on other causes of instability, chiefly: healthcare, development, governance and agriculture initiatives.
The PRT is a collection of military and interagency partners who help provide the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with the tools necessary to provide for the long-term needs of the provincial population.
The brothers are deployed from the 1/178 Field Artillery B Battery, South Carolina National Guard.
"In the Army, everyone's like a brother to you," said Joshua, the younger brother by three years. "In my case, having someone that actually is blood-related serving right next to me is really special."
Brandon joined the South Carolina National Guard in December, 2001.
"I always wanted to join the military as a kid, but I tried the college thing first and it really wasn't for me. I joined the National Guard and it's been great for me."
Fittingly, the actions of the older brother altered the life path of his younger sibling.
"When Brandon got back from one of his deployments to Iraq, he told me all about being in different countries and seeing things not a lot of people get to see in their lifetime," Joshua said. "It sounded great, so that's basically why I joined. Now I get to see lots of cool places and have stories to tell my kids when I'm older."
Joshua joined the South Carolina National Guard in October, 2008.
Less than two years later, the brothers were off to pre-deployment training together at Fort Stewart, Ga., and later at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
They arrived in Afghanistan in late February and were given the assignment to travel to Forward Operating Base Orgun with their teammates.
Naturally, upon arrival to Orgun, the Sitton brothers were told they'd be roommates for the duration of their tour.
Often, brothers who are together almost every day don't always appreciate the arrangement.
Not the Sitton boys.
"When we're not deployed, we hang out with each other every day anyway," said Brandon. "We live in the same house back home and we have pretty much the same friends and hobbies. It's kind of neat. We're real close and not all brothers are. We do everything together, so it's cool to do this together too."
Like a typical older brother, Brandon watches over his little brother to ensure all is well.
"I pay attention and keep track of him, make sure he's squared away. He's on a good crew though, so I don't worry too much. I know he's being taken care of."
For many parents, having a deployed servicemember can be a difficult thing to deal with. The Sitton family has two to worry about at once.
"We are the only kids in our families, so it's difficult for them but they understand it," said Joshua. "My mom is a very proud, very patriotic person. She says as long as I am serving with my brother, it's a good thing. We can see the same stuff and have the same experiences."
"She's actually more comfortable with both of us here," said Brandon. "I had a choice whether or not to deploy with this unit. My mom said she'd feel better if we were both here together. I was going to come anyway, but I'm glad she agreed with me."
Though Brandon and Joshua maintain a mission-first attitude, the idea of one of them getting hurt is a reality that they both have to live with each time they leave the confines of the base.
"If something were to happen to Joshua while we're here, it would really affect me," said Brandon. "If something was to happen to any of these guys I'm with, I would never forget them, but we would all go home and live in different places. If something were to happen to Joshua, though, I would constantly be reminded of it all the time because we live in the same house."
When not deployed with the Army, Joshua works in a factory making electrical components while Brandon is a guitarist in a band.
"It's real neat to go through this experience with your brother," said Joshua. "My Army brothers here, I've known a year or two, but I've known Brandon for 22 years so it's a little closer than someone I don't know much about especially when we have the same parents, friends and lifestyles. Growing up together, we watched each other make mistakes, so now we're out at a location where you can't make many mistakes, if any at all, and its good watching him take responsibility and being an example."
"The Sitton brothers are two of my best soldiers," said Master Sgt. Charles Coleman, the platoon sergeant for the Paktika PRT detachment in Orgun. "They work very hard to accomplish the mission and keep morale high. During stressful times they pull together and pull others with them and are always highly motivated."
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2010 09:32 |
| Story ID: | 48130 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 487 |
| Downloads: | 418 |
This work, South Carolina Army National Guard brothers pull double duty, by Capt. Mark Lazane, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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