Fraternal twins Dusty and Daniel Cowan have traveled a lot of similar paths throughout their lifetime.
There were together in boy scouts, flag football and little league, as well as a collection of other similar interests.
After high school graduation, though, each embarked upon a separate path that placed a fork in the road. Once again, however, the journey has come together in a singular path.
The two brothers are now members of the Kentucky National Guard.
Dusty is three minutes older than his brother and was the first one of the two to make the decision to join the Guard.
Throughout his childhood he played with toy soldiers, watched war movies and played war video games as some of his favorite activities.
He remembers at his high school graduation from Logan County High School a feeling of envy when graduates of his class who had already chosen to join the military were asked to stand to be recognized. Dusty was envious that these classmate members knew what they wanted to do.
After a year of trying college and working, Dusty joined the Guard in May 2007.
He left for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. on his 20^th birthday in July of the same year.
Upon arrival at Ft. Jackson, he was housed with 60 other recruits. The process began of turning him and the others into soldiers.
Portions of basic training come as a shock to recruits, but Dusty said he felt he had worked hard to prepare himself mentally and physically for the nine weeks that lay before him.
At the end of those nine weeks, he no longer thought of himself as being in a room of 60 individuals but as being part of a cohesive unit. They had been trained to think as one.
The camaraderie that one builds between himself and his "battle buddies" is one of the best aspects of basic training. He says that’s what he now misses the most.
When asked what was the hardest part to deal with during the nine-week training period, Dusty commented it was the complete isolation from the rest of the world.
The only communication the soldiers have with the outside world is a letter from home. The purpose of this is so the soldier has no distraction from his training.
Making the decision to serve his country is one Dusty has never regretted despite the fact that the United States was heavily engaged in a war in Iraq at the time of his enlistment.
"I feel like I came home more responsible as a person and more in tune with myself, as well as coming to know myself better," Dusty said.
Deployment to battle is not anything the young soldier is frightened of. "Combat is something I have been trained for and if that time comes, I will let my training take over," Dusty stated.
It was attending Dusty’s graduation from basic training that sealed Daniel’s decision to join the Guard as well.
Daniel joined in October 2007 and left for his basic training-also at Fort Jackson-in August 2008.
Daniel regards the Guard as an opportunity to serve his country as well as a chance to pay for college and earn an in income.
The living arrangements of being in one room with 30 other guys did take some adjusting on Daniel’s part. He was 21 when he reported for basic, but some of those other recruits were only 18 years old.
He characterizes himself as a private person, but his experience taught him to get past his own privacy and learn to live as a unit with other people.
One of the highlights for Daniel during basic was being chosen for platoon guide leadership. "I took a lot of pride in being chosen for that leadership position," Daniel said. "However, the most honored part was being offered a handshake from my senior drill sergeant. That meant more to me than any medal I received." Recruits are not allowed to touch the drill sergeants at all.
The discipline Daniel learned has given him a new direction, a "sense of life."
"Going through basic raises a level of pride, not only in yourself but in your country as well," Daniel stated. "You go from carrying a 30- to 40-pound ruck sack on your back for two miles to 10 to 15 mile marches. That is not something everyone can do."
Dusty and Daniel both cited the military history of their family for being an influence and feel a great sense of pride in carrying on the family tradition. Their maternal grandfather, the late Shelby Wilcutt, was a disabled vet. Their paternal grandfather, James Earl Cowan, also served in the Kentucky National Guard. They are following the footsteps of great-uncles and cousins that include two retired Colonels.
After basic Dusty completed his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Jackson in 42 Alpha, Human Resource Specialist.
Daniel is still in his AIT at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. in 44 Bravo, Welding.
Not everyone finishes basic training once he or she starts. "Once you have this, it is something no one can ever take away from you," Daniel said. "You are never just a civilian any more. You are a soldier."