Thousands of Miles Can't Separate Two Sisters

Photo By Sgt. Lance Wail | 1st Lt. Brittany Kessler, a military intelligence officer deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 2nd Brigade, First Infantry Division, administers the Commissioning Oath to her younger sister, 2nd Lt. Mallory Kessler on June 15, 2007, at Camp Liberty, Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.24.2007

Courtesy Story

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

Capt. David Levasseur
2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs officer

BAGHDAD—A family's military tradition continues today as one older sister, currently serving in Baghdad, Iraq, gives the commissioning oath to her graduating sister via video teleconference.

When asked who she wanted to give her the commissioning oath, 2nd Lt. Mallory Kessler had only one response, her sister. The problem is her sister, 1st Lt. Brittany Kessler, has been deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, since October, 2006. With the support of her Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadre she was able to set up a video teleconference to Camp Liberty, Baghdad so that her sister could administer the oath.

2nd Lt. Mallory Kessler is being commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer and will first attend the Officer Basic Course before being assigned to Ft Bliss, Texas.

1st Lt. Brittany Kessler is a Military Intelligence Officer and is currently serving with the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. She is expected to return from her deployment to her home station of Schweinfurt, Germany, in October 2007.

At 7:00 PM Baghdad time on June 15, 1st Lt. Kessler raised her right hand and gave the commissioning oath to her little sister. "I am very proud of her," she said afterwards. "She joined the Army to pay for school and I think partly because I did. I am really glad that I could participate in her commissioning, even though I couldn't be there."

• Date Taken: 06.24.2007
• Date Posted: 06.25.2007 14:48
• Story ID: 10975
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ