FORT CARSON, Co. - Many siblings often experience jealously and disagreements growing up, and even want to pursue different career and education paths.
This is not the case for Pvt. Travis D. Carter II and his twin brother Pvt. Trevor D. Carter. The brothers decided to join the Army together and on Feb. 27, 2018, they left Atlanta to attend basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia.
Not only did they attend the same basic training, but found themselves going through advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, together, and continued on to where they currently serve: 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
“I was studying business marketing in college when Travis told me that he was going to join the Army,” Trevor Carter said. “So then I decided to go into the Army too, we’ll just do a buddy system.”
However, Trevor was not easily persuaded to leave college.
“I actually had to talk him (Trevor) into joining the Army,” Travis Carter said. “It took me a few months to convince him to come in with me.”
Growing up in Marietta, Georgia, the brothers competed in as many sports as they could, Trevor said. However, basketball was the one they took the most serious.
There was always a natural rivalry between the brothers, Trevor Carter said. They were always more focused with outscoring each other.
“When sports came around I would let him have it since he’s a couple inches taller,” Travis Carter said. “But as far as school or anything educational, I always try to accomplish more than him.”
The brothers continue to push each other beyond their limits trying to make each other better, Spc. Alvaro J. Ortiz, a generator mechanic for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 68th CSSB, 4SB, said.
“When we go out to the gym or play basketball, they’re always trying to out-perform each other,” Ortiz said. “If Travis scores 35 points, then Trevor is pushing to score 36. Their constantly pushing one another to be better.”
When both decided to join they were initially placed in the same platoon at basic training, but then the drill instructors separated the brothers.
“Our drill sergeants would always hassle us, because one time we got the same exact score on the PT test,” Trevor Carter said. “Then we went and shot the same score at the range. They thought that we did it on purpose but it was really just an accident.”
The company first sergeant thought the brothers were too similar to each other to have in the same platoon, Trevor Carter said.
“Honestly, you can say that he’s literally another version of me,” Travis Carter said. “We’re not identical, but everything we do is exactly the same. We eat the same foods, shoot the same, like the same movies, everything is always the same.”
Having a friend or relative be there with you during training is an invaluable asset.
“I went through basic training with my best friend and that helped me deal with the stress and being separated from home,” Ortiz said. “Going through with your brother would make you want to compete more, try harder and beat him. But at the end of the day, it’s your brother, you can’t be too mad him.”
Even though the brothers don’t see each other every day, just knowing that the other is close has helped ease the burden of being away from home.
“We’re both busy with our jobs, but I always know in the back of my mind that he’s not that far away if I need him,” Travis Carter said. “It really helps a lot and I know it helps him too.”
However, when the Carter twins are able to get together, fun times follow.
“We all like to play video games, go to concerts or go out to dinner,” Ortiz said. “No matter what we’re doing, they’re always joking around, picking on each other. They’re like the ‘Zack and Cody’ of 68th.”
No matter where their jobs take them, the Carter twins know that they can count on one another to help work through any situation.
“Ever since basic, I always have someone there to help push me, or someone to talk to when I need,” Trevor said. “I never get homesick because I grew-up with him and he’s here with me, that’s helped me a lot.”
For now, the brothers intend to stay in the Army until they retire, but both agree they will eventually move back to Georgia to settle down and start families. The pair have goals of possibly starting a business together or even going into real estate together.
But for now they stand ready as part of the Ivy Division.
“We would really like the opportunity to deploy together,” Travis Carter said. “Being there together would certainly make the whole experience a lot easier for us. Maybe we’ll get that chance while we’re together here at Fort Carson.”