Photo By 1st Sgt. John Etheridge | First Lt. John Wright, commander of Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 4th Special...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Promotion to captain is a milestone in the career of an officer. Capt. Scott Wright, an adviser with Security Force Advise and Assist Team 5, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Division, decided to hold off the personal landmark of pinning on captain’s rank because he knew he was going to be in Afghanistan soon and he had to fulfill a promise to his older brother.
“My date of rank is actually about three weeks ago. I could have been promoted earlier but I promised my brother that I would be out here on this deployment with him when I pinned on captain,” said Wright.
Both brothers have completed one previous deployment each. However, this time they are both serving a tour at different locations in Afghanistan under the 4th IBCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Fortunately Wright’s older brother, 1st Lt. John Wright, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th IBCT, 4th Inf. Div., was able to come to Kandahar Airfield from a remote base and pin captain bars on his younger brother in a promotion ceremony May 21 in front of the International Security Assistance Force Regional Command (South) headquarters.
John made quick work of removing his brother’s old lieutenant rank. He flipped his brother’s cap off of his head and removed the rank, ripped the lieutenant rank off his chest and let both fall to the gravel. John quickly replaced each with fresh captain insignia and gave his brother his first salute in his new rank.
Although his younger brother now outranks him, John shows nothing but pride in his brother’s promotion.
“I’m very proud of him. Even though he outranks me in the Army and I’m the older brother, I have no problem with that. I definitely admire what he has been able to accomplish,” he said of his brother, a U.S. Military Academy graduate.
“I’ve got him on date of rank,” Scott said, “but he’s the older brother and he won’t let me forget it.”
Both brothers feel that deploying simultaneously to the same theater has some benefits as well as some drawbacks.
“It feels good to have someone to share experiences with and have someone to talk to about things on your deployment,” said John.
“The two of us really like that we’re both out here; it’s great to have that support,” said Scott. “ But it has to be tough on my mother knowing that both of her sons are over here. But if anyone can handle it, it’s her. She’s an amazingly strong woman,” he added.
The brothers were only able to visit for a couple of hours before they had to return to their individual duties, but it was enough to make some new memories and strengthen their brotherly bond.
“It meant the world to me,” said Scott about having his brother visit and pin on his rank. “It was a very special day. I will never forget it.”
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2014 08:18 |
| Story ID: | 130922 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,081 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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