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Leon’s younger brother, Senior Airman Elliot Briggs, a maintenance analyst technician with the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, is just starting his deployment.
“It's been the best month in my military career,” said Elliot. “Considering Bagram is a combat zone, having the ability to walk down the street from my dorm and meet up with my brother for lunch is very fortunate.”
Being able to relate to their childhood past, and make references between then and now was exactly what Leon needed before heading home.
“Seeing my brother here [at Bagram] took away a lot of unsettling emotions that I gained throughout my time here,” said Leon. “I spent a great amount of time in other areas of Afghanistan, which wasn’t the best to dwell for a long period. Coming back to BAF, and connecting with my brother, helped me transition back into a normal routine of life.”
To Elliot, it’s the little things they do together that are unforgettable.
“Sometimes, we'd go to the MWR and play videogames like the old days,” said Elliot. “Who would have thought that a military deployment would bring back similar days we spent as kids growing up?”
One of Elliot’s most memorable moments was visiting the barracks where Leon lives and hanging out with the soldiers that kept his brother safe.
“We are taught about resiliency as soldiers and airmen, but it’s an entire other thing to deal with the difficult things we do when it’s your own flesh and blood in a combat zone,” said Elliot. “I know my brother feels a little better after meeting with my fellow airmen who I will be serving alongside.”
This is the first time the two brothers were able to serve in uniform alongside one another, and even though Leon is scheduled to depart Afghanistan soon, the brothers know they are a text message away if they need to talk.
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2018 07:34 |
| Story ID: | 278049 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Brothers in Arms, by SMSgt Eugene Crist, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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