Photo By Spc. Vaughn Hill | Brothers in service, Sgt. Pete Garner (left), of the 211th Military Police Company,...... read more read more
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There is something sacred about family traditions, especially when they are based on the Army core values of loyalty, duty, respect, personal courage, honor, selfless service and integrity.
First Sgt. Benjamin Garner, of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and his brother, Sgt. Pete Garner, of the 211th Military Police Company, had those values instilled in them from their dad, who retired honorably from the North Carolina Army National Guard.
Now the two of them are walking in his footsteps; Army bred, leadership bound, brothers for life should be their motto as they lead from the front as members of Joint Task Force-Panther, Aug. 25 to Sept. 8, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C.
JTF-Panther served as the military security support element for local law enforcement throughout the Democratic National Convention, Sept. 3-6, 2012.
“It’s like a Family tradition,” Pete said. “My dad was in the military for 34 years and I have another brother who was active duty, so it only seemed natural for me to follow suit.”
Pete, the younger of the two, is very respectful of his brother. A nine year age gap and a four level rank difference, technically separates them. However, the two were assigned to the same unit for a big chunk of Pete’s military career before Benjamin transferred to the 130th MEB in January 2012.
“He used to be my first sergeant for my first three years in,” Pete said. “[I] definitely had to keep [my] military bearing. I don’t think there will ever be another first sergeant as good as he was. It’s definitely a change since he left.”
From a big brothers perspective, Benjamin just put on his first sergeant’s hat and conducted himself accordingly, never trying to draw attention to the Family connection.
“I never looked at it any differently,” Benjamin said. “I just treated [Pete] the same as I treated everybody else, but I think he took some crap for it. I heard of some situations where some of the other soldiers told him that they didn’t like me… but he never came back and said anything to me about it.”
Despite the difference in their age, their likeness is uncanny. It’s pretty sweet for Pete to be called first sergeant; receiving the prestige that comes along with that title, but soldiers have been known to get in trouble for addressing a first sergeant as a sergeant. It’s the epitome of walking up to him and literally knocking a few rockers and a diamond from his chest.
“We look so much alike, I always have people call me first sergeant by mistake,” Pete said. “One of my higher-ups told me he almost got in trouble because he was about to call [Benjamin] sergeant.”
“Several people have come up to [Pete] and thought I had done something really bad to get busted down [to his rank],” Benjamin said.
Although they look alike, the two have totally different military occupations. As a headquarters company first sergeant, Benjamin is in charge of the soldiers in the unit; tracking their whereabouts and enforcing the rules and regulations to make sure soldiers are in compliance. First sergeants also establish a rapport with their soldiers; becoming a role model and confidant.
Pete is responsible for the military police shuttles and delivering soldiers to the sites where they pulled security during the Democratic National Convention in support of civilian law enforcement. He is also a full-time National Guard technician for the 211th MP Company. He tracks all the vehicles; making sure they are properly serviced and mission-capable.
“I was a first sergeant when he was a private,” Benjamin said. “[Therefore when it comes to work], I stay in my lane and he stays in his.”
There is a mutual respect for the time-honored Army values found in both of these men. Benjamin, with nearly 20 years in and Pete just topping four, the two brothers career paths include continuing on in the National Guard until they decide to retire, just like their father.
A soldier who has been working with first sergeant Garner since he transferred to the 130th MEB, recently met sergeant Garner and she noticed that they both take the duties and responsibilities of being a soldier seriously.
“I only met [Pete] briefly, but I have heard many great things about him,” said Sgt. Jude Luciano, of the 130th MEB. “First sergeant [Garner] is one of the best [we] have ever had; he is very personable, professional, and he teaches you what he knows.”
The leadership qualities are noticeable in both of the brothers; and the traits they admire about each other are ones that take soldiers far in the National Guard.
“Many of the senior command have told me that my brother is squared away,” Benjamin said. “He is a good guy, he has done well and I think he will have a great military career.”
“People are always asking me, ‘Are you going to fill his shoes?’,” Pete said. “All I say is those are some pretty big shoes to fill.”
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2012 14:34 |
| Story ID: | 94593 |
| Location: | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 662 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army bred, brothers for life, by SSG Ruth McClary, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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