Photo By Tech. Sgt. Tyler Meister | Sgt. Maj. Craig B. Muerer (right), the Combined Joint Task Force 3 intelligence...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Many know them as a rare father and son duo in 3rd Infantry Division currently deployed to the airfield. Fewer know the entire story of how Sgt. Maj. Craig B. Muerer and his son, Spc. Chaz C. Muerer, became a landmark in 3rd Infantry Division’s history and also developed their relationship in midst of a warzone.
Throughout 3rd Infantry Division history, many family members have deployed together, but Craig said their circumstance may be a first.
Both say they’re using this deployment to improve their relationship since Chaz didn’t see his father much during his youth. The same organization that separated a family for many years, - the U.S. Army - has now created the circumstance for a father and son reconciliation at the airfield.
Chaz, a Killeen, Texas, native who’s a military paralegal specialist, grew up with the challenge of divorced parents and a father who was an active duty soldier. He said his bi-annual visits with his father, who lived in Arizona, were also limited by deployments.
“We spent lots of time apart when I was growing up and we weren’t able to establish a strong father-son connection,” Chaz said.
Despite his childhood aversion for the military, Chaz said joining the Army would help him attain his goal of a higher education and a variety of benefits. After graduating high school, he started his military career, similar to his father’s military path.
For the past two years, Chaz served with 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. By coincidence, his father received orders to join Chaz as a 3rd Infantry Division soldier.
“I don’t believe in luck,” said Craig, who is currently deployed as the Combined Joint Task Force 3 military intelligence sergeant major. “I did not request the move, nor was it sought after, so I was very pleased when I heard the news.”
Shortly after he joined his son, Craig learned he was set to deploy with Chaz for the upcoming tour to Afghanistan. He said he looked forward to making up for some lost time and the opportunity to strengthen his bond with Chaz.
“We work out every day, eat dinner together and hang out on our free time,” Chaz said. “It’s been great having ‘Pops’ here with me on my first deployment.”
Craig said his current goal has been to help Chaz achieve a perfect score of 300 on the Army physical fitness test. He said he mentors Chaz about his career while allowing him to forge his own path.
“The biggest challenge for me has been refraining from stepping into the lane of Chaz’s chain of command,” Craig said. “I may be a soldier, but at the end of the day I’m still a father.”
Chaz said the toughest aspect of deploying together has been keeping their relationship professional to ensure there is no favoritism.
“There are only two Muerers in the Army’s inventory and Third ID has claim to both of them right now,” Craig said. “This may very well be the one and only time I’ll be in this position, so I have to make the most of it.”
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2012 03:59 |
| Story ID: | 97830 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 429 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Deployed father, son make up for lost time, become 3rd ID history, by TSgt Tyler Meister, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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