 Living
Although the ceremony lasted less than five minutes, the three Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade staff sergeants: Patricia Fernandez, a communications noncommissioned officer from District Heights, Md.; Cesar Morales, a command driver from McKinney, Texas; and Corey Jarels, a personal security team squad leader from Bedford, Va., were glad they were able to co-ordinate the event. The NCOs have been friends for almost two years. Jarels and Fernandez have known each other the longest, as both deployed with the brigade in 2005. Morales had worked for Col. Richard Francey, 41st Fires Brigade commander, when he was the 4th Infantry Division Rear Detachment Commander, and moved to the brigade when Francey took command in January 2007. "Sharing this event with both of them was cool," said Morales. Morales, who re-enlisted indefinitely, said the idea was his. The team realized the time the brigade commander had available was also one of the best times to close off the bridge to traffic. He said he realized neither of his friends would have a similar opportunity for future re-enlistments. Jarels, a first time re-enlistee, said being able to hold the ceremony in the city is one of the ways this deployment has been more rewarding. "Last deployment we had the same mission, but this time we get to interact with the Iraqis," said Jarels. On the brigade's deployment with the 4th Inf. Div., he and his teammates escorted the brigade leadership from Camp Liberty to the Green Zone several times a week for meetings. "This time we get to actually see the change we're making," said Jarels, who re-enlisted for four years. For Fernandez, whose job usually keeps her in the brigade tactical operations center, it was a rare chance to see where her husband, the PST NCOIC, goes on a regular basis. The ceremony marked her third re-enlistment. The three friends plan to continue making the most the opportunities the Army offers. Morales plans to work on earning master sergeant rank or becoming a warrant officer before retiring; Jarels wants to earn "at least" sergeant first class and finish his bachelor's degree; and Fernandez recently began pursuing a nursing degree. Morales said the best thing he's gotten from the Army has been good friends like Jarels and Fernandez. "The people you meet and the people you do your job with - they make the Army," he said. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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