Deployed brothers reunite for reenlistment

By Staff Sgt. Dana J. Cable, 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs / Published July 25, 2018

Two Airmen pose for a photo in front of an American flag

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Capt. Stephen Cagle, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief medical officer, stands with his brother, Staff Sgt. Christopher Cagle, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport supervisor, after administering the oath of enlistment to him, July 21, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Both brothers are deployed to separate locations and this is the first time they have seen each other in over a year. The Cagle brothers are natives of Ratcliff, Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

An Airmen reads the oath of enlistment to his brother

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Capt. Stephen Cagle (left), 386th Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief medical officer, administers the oath of enlistment to his brother Staff Sgt. Christopher Cagle, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport supervisor, July 21, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Both brothers are deployed to separate locations and this is the first time they have seen each other in over a year. The Cagle brothers are natives of Ratcliff, Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

An Airman reads the oath of enlistment to his brother

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Capt. Stephen Cagle, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief medical officer, administers the oath of enlistment to his brother, Staff Sgt. Christopher Cagle, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport supervisor, July 21, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Both brothers are deployed to separate locations and this is the first time they have seen each other in over a year. The Cagle brothers are natives of Ratcliff, Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

Two Airmen sit at a desk a sign paperwork

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Staff Sgt. Christopher Cagle (left), 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport supervisor, signs reenlistment paperwork after his brother, Capt. Stephen Cagle, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief medical officer, administered the oath of enlistment to him, July 21, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Both brothers are deployed to separate locations and this is the first time they have seen each other in over a year. The Cagle brothers are natives of Ratcliff, Arkansas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dana J. Cable)

SOUTHWEST ASIA --

As a sand storm blows outside, Staff Sgt. Christopher Cagle, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport supervisor, made the last minute decision to move his reenlistment ceremony indoors, July 21, 2018, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Being deployed is not the only unique thing about Cagle’s reenlistment ceremony. Cagle’s older brother, Capt. Stephen Cagle, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group deputy chief medical officer, was able to reunite with his younger brother and preside over his reenlistment.

“Having my brother be here and reenlist me really makes it special, and it just adds to it that we are both in a deployed location,” Chris said.

Both Chris and Stephen grew up as Air Force ‘brats’ with their dad retiring after 24-years of service.

“My dad is going to love this, Chris said. “He told me to make sure I got pictures.”

This is the first time the brothers have seen each other in over a year and it will be at least another six months until they will be reunited again.

Chris is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona and Stephen is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and both claim Ratcliff, Arkansas as their hometown.

Both brothers said they plan to retire from the Air Force.

“I’m really enjoying the Air Force,” Chris said. “By reenlisting for another four years I get to keep learning and developing my skills. I do information technology at home for fun so the fact that I get to do it as a job is amazing.”

Stephen shared similar sentiments about loving his job.

“I enjoy my job, I like being able to see everything full spectrum,” Stephen said. “At Scott AFB, I take care of patients, deliver babies, give vasectomies, colonoscopies and staying in the Air Force allows me to do that, and maintain those skills.”

Chris always knew he wanted his brother to reenlistment him, they just never knew when it was going to happen with their schedules.

“I’ve never actually delivered the oath of enlistment to someone, and for the first opportunity to reenlist someone and it’s my brother, that’s pretty cool,” Stephen said. “I’d love to do the next one too.”