Twins celebrate 21st in Afghanistan Published Aug. 15, 2003 By Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- The 455th Expeditionary Operations Group air traffic control flight celebrated the birthday of two of its airmen here Aug. 13. Senior Airmen Jason and Miles Herder, who are identical twins, turned 21 while deployed from the Air National Guard’s 243rd Air Traffic Control Squadron in Cheyenne, Wyo. Both are air traffic control journeymen.“I’m two minutes older than Jason,” Miles boasted. “But we usually do everything together.” They both joined the ANG in April 2002 and locked into the same career field.“I work in the control tower while Miles works in the radar building across the runway from the tower,” Jason said.The two maintain radio contact with each other ensuring aircraft are safe to land.They are both proud to be able to celebrate their birthday working for their country in a combat zone.“They’re happy to be here,” said Chief Master Sgt. Paul Zaring, chief ATC manager. “They volunteered for this deployment and they both have great attitudes about it.” The twins had help from behind the scenes to get them together at the same time. “Both our parents are majors in the Air Force,” said Miles. “Our mother (works in) budget analysis and our father is a C-130 Hercules navigator. Mom set us up on the same rotation out here.” “I’m proud of both of them,” Zaring said. “Both are willing to work hard and both are making personal sacrifices to be here. Working with them is an honor.”Zaring is not the only one who has gotten a kick out of being deployed with the twins.“It’s fun to watch them when they’re off duty because you can see how close they are to each other,” said Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Woodard, 455th EOG tower chief controller. “They’re always on the same page so it’s hard to tell them apart. They’re on the same workout program and same diet as well.”Their likeness does not get in the way of their professional responsibilities, though. “Since they’ve been here, both have been doing an outstanding job, especially for their first deployment,” Woodard said. “And although they joke and rough around a lot while off duty, they are always professional at work and over the radio.”Jason suggests their close relationship as twins actually helps their ability to work productively.“It’s an absolute blast working with Miles,” Jason said. “We have an understanding of each other over the radio at work that we don’t have with anyone else. There is never a miscommunication.” The twins do not take the credit for themselves in the job they do.“If it wasn’t for our parents pushing us, we wouldn’t have the success we have now,” said Miles. Nevertheless, they are both pushing for higher goals.“We both are looking into getting our pilot’s license,” Jason said. “Through Embry-Riddle,” they said in unison. The twins said this deployment is just one of many things they are experiencing together, and it is sure not to be the last. But they agree, one thing will be hard to repeat. “This birthday has definitely been a good experience here at Bagram, and we’re sure there will not be another like it,” Jason said.