Brothers in arms, family by blood

Published June 4, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Callahan
447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Stepping off an aircraft in a foreign country after days of travel for the first time can often be overwhelming for any Airman. After in-processing, trying to get their bearing and the lay of the new desert terrain, many newly deployed Airmen seek refuge in their new unit.

Two members of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Sather Air Base not only had a good portion of their home unit, the 107th Security Forces Squadron of the New York Air National Guard, awaiting their arrival, they had their dad to help point them in the right direction as well.

As members of the 447th ESFS, Airmen 1st Class Phil and Ben McDonald would be part of the unit responsible for patrolling and securing Sather AB, including more than 10 square kilometers surrounding Baghdad International Airport. This responsibility may be stressful to some, but Phil said that having family here helped calm his nerves during his first deployment.

"My father was (at the terminal), along with a bunch of other people," said Ben, who was the last of the McDonalds to arrive Sather AB. "It was pretty relieving. I was worried that I'd get here and not know what to do."

His father, Chief Master Sgt. Earl McDonald, superintendent of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, arrived at Sather AB in January. He is used to working with members of his immediate family since all four of his children were or are part of the 107th Airlift Wing out of Niagara Falls, N.Y. But being deployed with his sons brought on new emotions for the chief.

"I felt real good, real proud," Chief McDonald said about his sons' arrival to Sather AB. "I'm glad they want to go out and make their own way."

"As members of security forces, we just do our job the best we can, no matter what," Phil said. "I definitely wanted to do this, and I'm glad I got the chance."

Chief McDonald knows how important the security forces mission is, and he knows that in order to complete it, it takes a team of professionals looking out for each other.

"(Deploying now) is the best thing for them to do because they'll be watched after by people in a good unit that will take care of them," he said.

Now that the men of the family have joined together at Sather AB, they all seem to agree that it's nice to have a support structure, but, in uniform, dad is chief and sons are Airmen.

Chief McDonald remarked that after all this time and with all four children being in the Air Force, it's easy to separate his role as a father and his role as a chief. Even here, the chief only has one comment to his sons about playing "dad" in a military setting.

"I tell them, I only have one rule, 'Don't embarrass me, and I won't embarrass you,'" he said. "Once in a while, I'll have my (airman battle uniform) shirt on and look down at the sleeve and let them know, Yeah, this looks pretty good on me,'" he said.

The younger McDonalds have no problem staying within their boundaries as Airmen, either.

"I want to make my own way in the Air Force," Phil said. "I don't want any special treatment because he is (a chief)."

It doesn't hurt to have someone to turn to, though. Both Airmen seek guidance from one another and from their father on occasion.

"If I ever have any questions, my father and my brother are right there," Ben said. "They encourage me to step up."

He said their support helped him break out of the shy spell that some new Airmen have when they first enter a unit.

"It's a little bit intimidating (being new to a unit)," he said. "So, they would tell me to go ask questions, and make sure I'm heard."

Chief McDonald said he also sees the importance of their peers in the unit.

"I'll give them advice, but I think they need to hear things from the people within their unit too," the chief said.

The two brothers have their own identities and personalities. One being tall and thin, the other admitting to having a weight problem as a teen. One was early while the other was late. But both Airmen chose security forces because of their ambition to become civilian policemen, and both Airmen also plan to stay in the Air National Guard as long as they can. While here, all three McDonalds appreciate each other's company.

"I definitely try to make it a point to see my brother and my dad as much as possible," Ben said. "Just that little bit helps, even if it's just for a couple of minutes or eating lunch or breakfast with them. I try to see them whenever I can."

With Chief McDonald preparing to go back to New York, a portion of the family will be separated again, but the two brothers still have one another and a new "family" with the members of the 447th ESFS.

"I know their NCOs, senior NCOs and leadership to be highly professional," Chief McDonald said. "I hope this experience helps them have a long and fulfilling career."

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Brothers in arms, family by blood