Texas Guard member’s rivalry with brother beneficial

By Army Spc. Brittany Gardner

Army Reserve

BASRAH, Iraq (7/26/11) - Sibling rivalry isn’t always about animosity or jealousy. Sometimes it can spark healthy competitions between brothers or sisters and helps them accomplish their goals. One soldier attributes his success in the military to the rivalry between him and his brother.

Army Spc. Andrew Deason, of the 36th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion, Texas National Guard, strives hard for military excellence in order to out-do his older brother, an active duty specialist in the Army.

While Deason serves as an Iraqi security forces knowledge management representative at Contingency Operating Base Basra, his brother, Army Spc. Brian Brown, a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division.

Although Deason enlisted two years after his brother, Deason said he is so far winning the competition between the two to be the first to achieve certain military goals. Graduating basic combat training, advanced individual training, and being promoted are a few of those goals.

“After he enlisted, I still considered myself better than him,” Deason said. “I told him, ‘Alright. I can do everything you do and better.’”

His brother obtained his current rank in two and a half years, he said. Deason was a specialist in two.

Brown graduated basic military training. Deason graduated basic training, too, but as an honor graduate.

And though his brother was an honor graduate from his AIT, Deason one-upped him and was distinguished honor graduate at his AIT.

The brothers also compete to see who can meet the highest-ranking military officials.

“When it comes to meeting people, I’ve got him beat so far, Deason said. “He’s met [Army] Gen. Austin [and] the chief of staff. Me, I’ve met Gen. Austin, the chief of staff, and the sergeant major of the Army. So, I’m a little ahead of him so far.”

During Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III’s visit to COB Basra, Deason was presented with a coin for excelling in his mission here. While handing him the coin, Chandler complimented Deason on his demeanor.

This same excellence has not gone unnoticed by his leadership here.

“Spc. Deason is an invaluable part of our section,” said Army Sgt 1st Class James R. Gifford, Iraqi security forces section noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “He has a great personality and his positivity promotes a higher level of morale in our section daily. He has an extremely strong work ethic and continues to search for ways to improve through both civilian and military education, as well as daily experiences and others jobs.”

The rivalry between him and his brother keeps Deason motivated to accomplish his goals, but he also attributes his drive to succeed as just being part of his personality.