Twins double up in desert

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cassandra Locke
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Twin Senior Airmen Levana Raum and Levina Sumang have been brought closer together by sharing their deployment experiences at a forward-deployed location. 

The sisters volunteered to deploy together so they could get an opportunity to catch up on quality time after once going their separate ways. 

“I love being deployed with my sister," Airman Raum said. "We’re very close, and it’s nice to have someone here with me who is not only my sister, but my best friend.”  

“It’s been nice to spend some quality time with my sister without the distractions you would get at home,” said Airman Sumang, who is the older twin by one hour and 14 minutes. 

Airmen Raum and Sumang enlisted in the Air Force through the buddy system. They went through basic training and technical school together. Both are part of the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a forward-deployed location and are from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing. 

The twins were inspired to join the Air Force during their freshman year of high school while in the Junior ROTC. They both wanted to be a part of security forces because of the physical challenges it presents. 

“When I heard that the Airmen in this job have to run (extensively) I thought ‘I know I can do that,'" Airman Sumang said . 

Born and raised in Hawaii, both Airmen are married and have a military-oriented family. Airman Raum’s husband was in the Navy and Airman Sumang’s husband, who is also a twin, was in the Army. The Airmen’s father was a Marine and is excited with the military route his daughters have taken. 

“My dad gets so excited when we talk about weapons with him. He’s extremely proud of us and what we do,” Airman Raum said . 

During the first part of their six-month tour, Airman Sumang provided security on the flightline and Airman Raum worked at the vehicle search pit. Now, they are both providing flightline security. 

“People would always get us confused with each other,” Airman Raum said. 

The Airmen spend time together volunteering for worthy causes. They helped coordinate the Operation Hero dinner, a tribute to the wounded troops currently here. They also put gift bags together for the wounded troops and delivered the bags with other squadron members.

The twins were glad they had the chance to spend the holidays here together. 

“Being here has made us closer,” Airman Sumang said. 

“And to me, serving with my sister has been the most rewarding part of this deployment experience,” Airman Raum said.