Twins switch military branches, continue family's military heritage

Published Aug. 9, 2013
By Master Sgt. Marelise Wood
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Matthew and his brother, Andrew, Van Dercreek left for basic training within a little over a month of each other. As brothers, they were used to doing a lot together. They shared a love of aviation, they came from a military family, some people even said they look alike.

That's because these brothers aren't just any brothers, they're fraternal twins. In 2004 they both began their military journey; Matthew in the Navy and Andrew in the Air Force. But that was only the beginning. Somewhere along the way, they decided to switch branches of service; Matthew joined the Air Force, and Andrew signed up for the Navy.

As a boy growing up in Riverhead, N.Y., Matthew heard stories of his grandfather who enlisted in the Navy in 1920 and was on the first aircraft carrier ever commissioned. He heard stories of a father who was a Navy photographer's mate; stories that led to his love of aviation and the Navy.

"I always wanted to do something with aviation," said Matthew, now a senior airman deployed to the 386th Expeditionary Operations Squadron. "I'm fourth generation military. I never got to meet my grandpa, I heard stories from my dad and there was just something about aviation; it always interested me."

Matthew's love of aviation led him to his first career as a Navy parachute rigger. He spent four years in the Navy, doing a job he enjoyed and travelling the world.

"I love the Navy," he said. "I got to live in San Diego, I was on the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, we went overseas, we did seven months in the Gulf in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, so I got to see the world!"

Meanwhile, Andrew began what became an almost nine-year career in the Air National Guard. He too was enamored with aviation and chose the job of aircrew flight equipment technician. But unlike Matthew, who went off to see the world, Andrew stayed close to home, about 10-minutes-away close, at the 106th Rescue Wing in West Hampton Beach, N.Y.

Matthew completed four years in the Navy and had thoughts about starting college, but still maintaining his military ties. There was no Navy Reserve unit close to his hometown, but what was close was his brother's ANG unit.

"I wanted to go to the college, and the unit my brother was in is literally 10 minutes away from where I'm from," said Matthew. "So I figured I'd go to school full-time and still serve in the military."

Matthew made a smooth transition from Sailor to Airman and became an aircrew flight equipment technician just like his brother.

"[As an aircrew flight equipment technician] we work with survival items, survival vests, helmets, oxygen masks, we're packing [para]chutes and working on survival rafts, do fabrication, basically all life support equipment; we maintain it, inspect it, fix it, issue it, receive it," said Matthew.

Matthew spent three years in his brother's unit and completed his associate's degree. After being accepted to a four-year university a little farther from home, he subsequently switched again to his current unit, the 107th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls Reserve Station, N.Y.

However, Matthew wasn't the only one ready to make a move.

"I always regretted not joining the Navy when my brother did," said Andrew. "I don't regret joining the Air National Guard. I had a great career in the guard, accomplished many goals and deployed several times. However, when I was offered a chance to transfer branches to fulfill my goal of becoming an air traffic controller, I did not want to pass it up."

Andrew, who received his pilot's license before he even got his driver's license, is currently at a three-week Navy orientation course before he leaves for training for his new career as an air traffic controller in December, 2013.

"I felt extremely proud and excited for my brother when I heard he switched branches," said Matthew. "It's an honor to know my brother joined the ranks of my grandfather, father and myself in serving in the Navy. [Growing up] it was hard being a twin because you're trying to be your own person. We got into some trouble together, a couple fights [with each other], got suspended once from school, but the military made our relationship much stronger and I can proudly say he is my best friend as well as my twin."

The brothers may no longer be serving together in the same branch of service or even in their original branch of service, but they both still share the same love of aviation and the same commitment to carry on their family's military heritage.

"I feel one of the greatest traditions upheld in the military is when generations of families continue to carry out service in our armed forces," said Matthew.