Photo By Master Sgt. Daniel Griego | Members of the Birklett family, including brothers Marquis and Maurice, pose before...... read more read more
HOUSTON - When most service members deploy overseas, they must leave behind their loved ones and embrace their comrades who will look after them far from home. For some Soldiers of the Army National Guard, however, family is never far away, even in a combat zone.
The 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, a Texas Guard unit headquartered out of Houston, is preparing for a nine-month deployment to seven Middle East countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait. Within the ranks of the battalion’s companies are three sets of siblings with the special privilege of serving alongside each other at home and abroad.
“It is nice to have my brother over there with me,” said Spc. Dustin Reid, a cable systems maintainer with A. Company. “This is our second deployment together and I actually volunteered to go with him this time to keep him from going by himself. I know he can take care of himself, but at least I can be there for him when he needs me.”
The families include six brothers, Specialists Derek and Dustin Reid of A Company, Spc. Dilan Goodwin and Sgt. Darin Goodwin of C. Company and Sergeants Marquis and Maurice Birklett of C. Company. The Birkletts, additionally, are twins who joined the National Guard at the same time and have enjoyed careers of shared training experiences.
"When we first joined,” said Maurice, “that's pretty much what we wanted to do, was stay together the whole time.”
"We went to basic and [advanced individual training] together," said Marquis, who looks forward to spending his first deployment overseas so close to his brother. "It will be amazing. I really wanted my brother to come, because he wasn't in the unit until the deployment came. We've always been together, all our lives."
For the Goodwin brothers, service and family go hand-in-hand, as Dilan enlisted following the example big brother Darin set.
“I saw how the Army treated him and saw the opportunities and the doors that opened up for him once he finally joined,” said Dilan. “And serving the country is always something I've wanted to do, so it kind of motivated me and pushed me forward toward doing that."
“It's actually pretty exciting,” said Darin. “I wouldn't have it any way. I really am honored to be able to serve with him. We're going to be in different spots, but hopefully we'll be able to cross paths when we're over there."
The mission will take the battalion, which includes Guardsmen from Texas and Alabama, to several diverse sites to provide voice and network capabilities throughout their areas of operation.
"It'll be a little tough because we won't exactly be in the same place,” said Marquis Birkett. “But just knowing he's over there with me, it'll be good.”
This mobilization is not without its challenges, however, as the family members are keenly aware of what it means to serve overseas.
“The biggest challenge is having a family member in harm’s way,” said Derek Reid. “All of us who wear the uniform, regardless of branch of service, are brothers and sisters in a way. We all look out for each other and do what we can for each other, and when we're in a combat zone we do it even more.”
In addition to these siblings, the 136th ESB has half of another deploying family in the form of Spc. Jovan Hill of C. Company, whose brother, Spc. Trovan Hill, serves with the 442nd Engineer Company out of Angleton, Texas, another Texas Army National Guard unit preparing for mobilization.
"It's definitely an honor,” said Jovan Hill. “He gives me courage, just knowing that he's a part of something that I am, too. Even though I may not get to see him, just knowing that he's somewhere close, it gives me hope."
The 136th ESB conducted its farewell ceremony at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, before the start of game two of the Houston Astros’ Lone Star Series against the Texas Rangers. From there, they will complete their final stage of training at Fort Hood before departing for their new duty station.
“I know there are a lot of other siblings in the military,” said Derek Reid, “but how many of them have actually deployed together with the same unit at the same time? I think that's pretty awesome.”
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2015 13:22 |
| Story ID: | 171220 |
| Location: | HOUSTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, For Texas Guardsmen, deploying is a family affair, by MSG Daniel Griego, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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