Photo By Spc. Eugene Cushing | U.S. Army Spc. Justin L. Hastings, a truck driver for Troop G, 2nd Battalion, 77th...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - A recent re-enlistment ceremony had observers seeing double at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Jan. 18.
This was because the two Soldiers re-enlisting shared the same last name, the same looks and the same DNA.
U.S. Army Spc. Justin L. Hastings, and his identical twin brother, U.S. Army Pfc. Josh L. Hastings, re-enlisted at the same time during their 12-month deployment to eastern Afghanistan with Task Force Mountain Warrior.
The Hastings brothers, both from Brandon, Fla., joined the Army separately in 2008 and found themselves both assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, after completing Initial Entry Training.
Justin was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery regiment, as a truck driver, and Josh was assigned to Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, as a squad-automatic weapon gunner.
Justin described the decision to re-enlist as a mutual one, while Josh claimed the idea was all his. By re-enlisting at the same time, the two were able to get assigned to the same unit again.
"It's great, I couldn't ask anything more than that," Josh said about sticking together at their next assignment.
The Hastings related a few stories about times that looking alike and having the same last name had gotten one or the other in trouble.
In one case, Justin was standing in formation at the end of the day while his brother waited behind the formation for him. They said the platoon sergeant didn't notice Justin in formation and asked where he was, when another Soldier said he was standing behind the formation.
"Our platoon sergeant started freaking out," Justin said, going on to explain that the sergeant brought his brother over and had them stand next to each other once the mix-up was cleared.
The Hastings brothers have also gone to great lengths to establish themselves as individuals.
"We're both excelling pretty well in the military," Justin said about their successes. He went on to explain that he has been selected for Soldier of the Quarter boards.
Josh's achievements included being an honor graduate from his initial entry training.
After the deployment, the brothers said they are transferring to a unit in Germany to continue serving alongside each other.
"I wanted to use the Army as a way to see the world," Josh said of their decision to go to Germany. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to Germany and have my brother come with me."
"Technically, you came with me," Justin said. "Germany sounded great, just me and my brother in Germany, spreading our wings and seeing the world."
"It's a great learning experience," Josh explained.
"He's always tailing me," Justin said.
"Whatever," Josh countered. "He's the one tailing me."
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2010 04:08 |
| Story ID: | 44839 |
| Location: | NANGARHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 96 |
This work, The family that re-enlists together, sticks together, by SPC Eugene Cushing, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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