By Sgt. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Three friends reenlisted together on Dam Bridge in al Kut, Dec. 13.
The ceremony lasted less than five minutes, but the three Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade Soldiers: Staff Sgt. Patricia Fernandez, a communications non-commissioned officer from District Heights, Md.; Sgt. Staff Cesar Morales, a command driver from McKinney, Texas; and Staff Sgt. Corey Jarels, a personal security team squad leader from Bedford, Va., were glad they were able to co-ordinate the event.
The NCOs have been friends for almost two years. Jarels and Fernandez met in 2005 when they were both deployed with the 41st Fires Bde.
Morales worked for Col. Richard Francey, 41st Fires Brigade commander, when he was the 4th Infantry Division Rear Detachment commander, and moved to the brigade when Francey took command in January 2007.
"Sharing this event with both of them was cool," said Morales.
Morales, who reenlisted indefinitely, said the idea was his. The team realized the time the brigade commander had available was also one of the best times to close off the bridge to traffic. He said he knew neither of his friends would have a similar opportunity for future reenlistments.
Jarels, a first time reenlistee, said being able to hold the ceremony in the city is one of the ways this deployment has been more rewarding.
"Last deployment we had the same mission, but this time we get to interact with the Iraqis," said Jarels. On the brigade's deployment with the 4th Inf. Div., he and his teammates escorted the brigade leadership from Camp Liberty to the Green Zone several times a week for meetings.
"This time we get to actually see the change we're making," said Jarels, who reenlisted for four years.
For Fernandez, whose job usually keeps her in the brigade tactical operations center, it was a rare chance to see where her husband, the PST NCOIC, goes on a regular basis. The ceremony marked her third reenlistment.
The three friends plan to continue making the most of the opportunities the Army offers. Morales intends to work on earning master sergeant rank or becoming a warrant officer before retiring; Jarels wants to earn "at least" sergeant first class and finish his bachelor's degree; and Fernandez recently began pursuing a nursing degree.
Morales said the greatest treasure of the Army are good friends like Jarels and Fernandez.
"The people you meet and the people you do your job with – they make the Army," he said.