Sisters in arms, Tech. Sgt. Miranda Minshew, 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron, and Spc. Julie Boggs, 263rd Quartermaster Company, recently reunited at Kirkuk Air Base after not seeing each other for more than three years. Minshew is deployed from the 377th Aerospace Medical Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. and Boggs is deployed from the 1013th Quartermaster Company, North Platte, Neb. Photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Breckon

Spc. Julie Boggs said she was surprised her deployment allowed her to cross paths with her sister, Tech. Sgt. Miranda Minshew.

“It is kind of a long shot chance with her being in the Air Force,” said the soldier assigned to the 263rd Quartermaster Company. “The chance wasn’t very big that we were going to be deployed at the same time and actually see each other with all the different bases and our jobs being completely different.”

Minshew, a public health technician assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron, shared her sister’s surprise and enthusiasm for the unlikely reunion.

“It’s nice to have a familiar face here while you’re away from your family,” Minshew said. “It’s like a part of home is here.”

When able, the sisters spent time catching up over coffee, watching movies and eating at the dining facility.

“We did a lot of just hanging out together,” the sergeant said. “We spent time working out together as well. It was pretty much my daily routine with her tagging along. It was great.”

Minshew and Boggs, born 19 months apart, grew up in the small town of Arthur, Neb. They attribute the close bond they developed to the dense population of their hometown where they often socialized in the same circle of friends.

“We grew up in a really small town and a really small community so we did a lot of stuff together,” Minshew said. “Every memory I have, she’s in it. She was always there.”

Even though they chose different branches of service, they insist there is no friendly interservice rivalry between them. However, Minshew made light of the different career paths they chose.

“She knows the Air Force is better,” Minshew said with both sisters laughing.

She then added, “I think the Army was a perfect fit for her and the Air Force was a perfect fit for me.”

Minshew enlisted in March of 1998. Her job in preventive medicine includes performing food inspections and setting up mosquito traps to help find and prevent the spread of diseases. Boggs joined the Army a year after her sister where her primary duties take her outside the wire setting up laundry and bath equipment for fellow Soldiers.

Boggs was told her unit would be reassigned to a different base in Iraq. Despite that, the sisters both said they were happy to have time to catch up with one another.

“I’m only here for a week so it’s a really short visit,” Boggs said. “[But] it’s definitely nice having someone here that I know.”

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Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez

Louisiana Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Crystal A. Huff administers the oath of enlistment to her sister, Mindy M. Donnelly, during a swearing-in ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, La., Sept. 30. Donnelly will immediately begin Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., before joining the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Miss. Photo by Spc. Scott Longstreet

On leave from a deployment in Kuwait, Louisiana Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Crystal A. Huff welcomed her sister Mindy M. Donnelly into the National Guard by administering the oath of enlistment during a swearing-in ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, La., Sept. 30.

“The Guard is like a family to me,” said Huff, a member of the 204th Theater Aviation Operations Group. “I met my husband in the military and now have both my nephew and sister in the National Guard as well.”

Donnelly, a Calhoun, La., native, will depart immediately for Fort Jackson, S.C., to begin her 10-week Basic Combat Training course followed by 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va. She will enlist as a food service specialist.

“I wanted a different way of living,” Donnelly said. “I wanted to do something different with my life and make things better for me and my son.”

Upon completion of training, she will join the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Miss., in preparation for a January 2010 deployment to Iraq.

“I purposely chose a job that would allow for the quickest deployment,” the 29-year-old Donnelly said.

Huff, the personnel officer with the aviation group, talked about the impact this swearing-in ceremony has on the family.

“We are proud of her,” she said. “This will be an eye opening experience for Mindy, and I cannot wait to see her after a year or so in the military. We are confident this will lead to a better and brighter future for both her and her son.”

“I am dedicated to the task,” Donnelly added. “I am a hard worker and cannot wait to train myself for something better. I also have plans for college in the future.”

The oath of enlistment into the United States Armed Forces is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military. The officer asks the person, or persons, to raise their right hand and repeat the oath after him. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States Flag and other flags, such as the state flag, military branch flag and unit guidon.

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Story by Spc. Scott Longstreet

Pvt. 1st Class Nedra Placke and Pvt. 1st Class Annette Havens receive congratulations from Lt. Col. Scott Smith, 155th Chemical Battalion commander, immediately preceding their promotions to specialist. Photo by Spc. Benjamin Kroger

Sisters Nedra Placke, of Dayton, Ohio, and Annette Havens, of Beavercreek, Ohio, recently received promotions from private 1st class to specialist in front of their fellow Soldiers in Headquarters, 155th Chemical Battalion. It was a special day for two sisters who have spent much of their short military service separated.

Placke and Havens enlisted together on May 22, 2007, with the intention of attending basic training and advanced individual training together, followed by service together in the Middletown-based 155th. Things didn’t go quite according to plan, as the two were separated into different companies at basic training. They were rejoined at AIT, but then Placke was injured and had to recover before finishing her training at a later date.

Placke remembers their enlistment. “Our recruiter said he knew my sister would make it, but that he wasn’t sure about me. My family said the same thing. I was out of shape and I quit smoking the day I enlisted.” Now Placke is enjoying her service and anxiously awaiting the birth of her fourth child in late 2009. The sisters say that the experience has made them closer.

“Growing up, we were close, but we are definitely closer now than at any time before,” Havens said. “After being separated throughout training, it’s pretty special to finally get to do something together, especially something as cool as getting promoted.” Havens also praised her older sister, “We didn’t know if she would make it, but look at her now. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Placke summed up the day, saying, “I’m just thankful she doesn’t outrank me.”

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Story by Spc. Benjamin Kroger

Staff Sgt. Melodie A. Hunt (left) and her sister Pfc. Mallorie A. Hunt, both Lumberton, N.C. natives, share a sisterly moment during their lunch time. The Hunt sisters are currently deployed to Baghdad as a part of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade out of Morrisville, N.C. and 47th Forward Support Battalion out of Baumholder, Germany. Photo by Pfc. Jasmine Walthall

Some soldiers turn to friends within their unit for the support they need during a deployment. Others are lucky enough to have a family member serving with them.

Army Staff Sgt. Melodie A. Hunt and Army Pfc. Mallorie A. Hunt, Lumberton N.C. natives, are sisters who are currently deployed to Baghdad. Although they serve in different units, they said, they still find time to get together.

Melodie Hunt is a member of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, an Army National Guard unit out of Morrisville, N.C. She is deployed as the air movement request noncommissioned officer in charge, with duties that include manifesting flights for soldiers. She also is the brigade’s retention NCO.

Mallorie Hunt is a truck driver for Alpha Company, 47th Forward Support Battalion, out of Baumholder, Germany. When her unit moved here in early fall, it was a pleasant surprise for the sisters.

“We were still in the states when we found out that Mallorie would be at the same place as me,” Melodie Hunt said. “It was pleasing to know that I would have someone there for me, and it made our parents more comfortable [with] us being together for my sister’s first deployment.”

Staff Sgt. Melodie A. Hunt (pictured left) and her sister Pfc. Mallorie A. Hunt, Lumberton, N.C. natives, stand in front of a Military Tactical Vehicle. The Hunt sisters are currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as a part of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade out of Morrisville, N.C. and 47th Forward Support Battalion out of Baumholder, Germany. Photo by Pfc. Jasmine Walthall

Melodie Hunt, who is on her second deployment in her eight-year military career, works as a police officer for the Lumberton Police Department when at home.

The Hunt sisters are 12 years apart, and they said they have this deployment to thank for strengthening their relationship.

“It was good to be able to spend what time together that we could,” Melodie Hunt said. “We work out together, and sometimes eat meals, which is more than we had when she was in Germany.”

Her sister agreed. “The older we have become, the closer we have gotten,” Mallorie Hunt said. “Sharing this deployment has helped that.”

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Story by Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall