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Darkness looms over the recruits as they crawl under tangles of
barbed wire through muddy trenches. As the recruits scream
encouragements amongst one another to complete the obstacle, one
particular duo of future Marines literally drag each other to the
finish line. One will not leave the other behind, because they are
twins; bound by brotherhood.
Now, as intelligence specialists
in the Marine Corps, Lance Cpl. Mitch Gautreaux and Pfc. Jason
Gautreaux graduated together from the Squadron Intelligence Training
Certification Course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North
Carolina on May 16, 2017.
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November 23, 2016 - The Jason and Mitch Gautreaux, twin brothers,
take a picture together after training at the School of Infantry
aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Geiger, NC. (Courtesy photo by Jason
and Mitch Gautreaux)
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Born only an hour apart, the Marines have been together since
before they can remember. As their friendship was unbreakable, they
often played on the same sports teams through childhood. When the
idea to join the Marine Corps came about, the pair made the
commitment together.
“My big brother was joining, and I
couldn’t let him go off and do something so cool alone,” said Mitch.
“I thought I might as well go on the adventure with him.”
The
twins enlisted directly after high school with the intelligence
specialists military occupational specialty. They trained in the
same platoon during Marine Corps recruit training, Marine combat
training, and their MOS school.
“I’ve always had someone
looking out for me,” said Jason. “He’s always been right there;
pushing me. It goes both ways too. I try to help him succeed in
everything as well.”
According to Mitch, having his brother
train alongside him has helped them both excel to new heights.
“If one of us is struggling, we could look over to see the other
struggling as well,” said Mitch. “I’d think to myself ‘If he can do
it, I can do it too.’”
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May 16, 2017 - Pfc. Jason Gautreaux (left) and Lance Cpl. Mitch
Gautreaux sit together on a CH-53E Super Stallion preparing to fly
from Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. to Marine Corps Air
Station Cherry Point, NC. Both Marines are assigned to units in
close proximity to one another after graduating from Squadron
Intelligence Training Certification Course. Jason is assigned to
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 at Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton, California, and Mitch is assigned to Marine Heavy
Helicopter Squadron 465 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar,
California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson)
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Both Marines are assigned to units in close proximity to
one another after graduating from SITCC. Jason is assigned
to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 at Marine
Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, and Mitch is assigned
to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 at Marine Corps Air
Station Miramar, California.
“We’ll still be able to
visit each other often,” said Jason. “The separation of the
work spaces will be very different, but I don’t think it
will be a bad thing at all.”
Mitch
states it has always been a benefit to have his brother with
him, and they are excited to get out of training and start
making a positive impact in the Marine Corps.
“When
we joined, our brotherhood was strengthened through the bond
the Marine Corps instilled in us,” said Mitch. “I can’t wait
to get into the fleet and actually start making a
difference.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
The U.S. Marines
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