Al Asad Air Base, Iraq- Sometimes it is the luck of the draw, but recently two members of the same family were assigned to duty in Iraq. Brother and sister Army Sergeant Shandy Erisman and Army Sergeant Abbi Erisman are both members of the Arkansas Army National Guard, and stationed in Iraq.
The siblings are glad that they can be deployed together in the same place, but some of their family did not share their enthusiasm for the idea. Their mother for example is not keen about the idea of both of her children being deployed to Iraq at the same time.
The two siblings are mechanics in an Infantry unit, who has as its main assignment the convoy escort duty inside of Anbar province. So far the two have assisted in escorting more than 40,000 trucks also nearly 100 million gallons of high octane jet and equipment fuel.
All of this has given the two siblings a lot of pride and confidence, and a renewed belief in what they are doing to serve their country. This service and assignment in Iraq has lasted nine months so far, with several months left on their deployment.