Face of Defense: Police Officer Twins Deploy Together

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Kielbasa
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 11, 2008 - Army Sgts. Daniel and Timothy DeKoeyer have been together all their lives. As civilians, the twin brothers serve together as police officers in Deland, Fla., and now the 22-year-old citizen-soldiers have volunteered to deploy together to Afghanistan for a year-long military police mission.

They left for training July 5 with the Florida Army National Guard's 715th Military Police Company, and later this summer will serve in Afghanistan and perform missions including convoy security and other military police responsibilities.

"I haven't deployed before, so I don't know what to expect overseas," Daniel said before departing from the unit's armory here. "Me and my brother are life-long buddies. We're from a different unit, but we volunteered to go with this unit. We're going to stay together and watch each other's backs."

The DeKoeyer twins previously were assigned to 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Daytona Beach.

They said that although some people have trouble telling them apart while on duty, the challenges always work themselves out.

"Eventually, through time, they all get to know our differences, and they'll eventually be able to tell us apart," Timothy said.

Both brothers said they feel the mission will go much smoother since they are deploying together.

"It will definitely be easier having someone you've known your whole life be there with you," Timothy said.

The DeKoeyers are among more than 150 members of 715th Military Police Company who traveled to Camp Shelby, Miss., for pre-deployment training.

(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Kielbasa serves with the Florida National Guard.)