An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

McGuire twin staff sergeants mark Air Mobility Rodeo 2007 as a special event

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Rodeo 2007 Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  For the brothers Staff Sgts. Bryan and Brent Pechanec, participating in Air Mobility Rodeo 2007 together for the first time is something special.

Bryan is a C-17 Globemaster III crew chief from the 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., and Brent is a KC-10 Extender crew chief from the 714th AMXS, also at McGuire. Both are also full-time Air Force Reserve technicians.

The fraternal twins grew up in Timken, Kansas, and say they do everything together and are the best of friends. When they were born in May 1980, Brent said he came out one-minute older than his twin, but added it doesn't give him much seniority when it comes to deciding things. Such closeness between them, Bryan said, is what drives them to live their lives to the fullest and be the best at what they do.

"I know our parents are real proud of us," Bryan said. "They raised us to work hard and enjoy life. We like to do that together as brothers and friends."

Brent said although they look and sound nearly the same, people who know them can tell them apart.

"Mom and dad can always tell us apart," Brent said.

At Rodeo, they came with the hope that their work would help bring back some hardware for the McGuire team. And they did. Brent's KC-10 maintenance team earned the "Best KC-10 Postflight Team" award for Rodeo 2007.

"It was a good feeling to win, but I couldn't help but feel a little down for my brother's team because they worked really hard and put in a lot of hours," Brent said. "Overall, I think it's nice for one of McGuire's teams to take home a trophy. It says a lot about all the people we have there including my brother."

The twins have never been about the awards though - it's been about being together. When they went to basic training together in 1998, they were in the same flight.
"Our training instructors had a lot of fun with us," Brent added.

Throughout their military careers, they've only been separated from each other for about four years when they both completed their active duty time. Bryan went to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Brent went to McGuire where he's spent all of his career.

"Even then, we visited each other quite a bit," Brent said. "Either I would go visit him or he would visit me."

For the last five-and-a-half years, they have been at McGuire together doing their maintenance jobs working hard and having fun in the process. At Rodeo, that has continued.

"We're at the same base and we were both selected for Rodeo - that was great," Bryan said. "We were trying to have a little more free time together, but operations kept us busy. It's been a good time all around though."

Brent added, "I've loved the Rodeo. Being with my brother has been great. I've got to see him a lot while I was here even though we didn't get to hang out as much. I know his whole team now and that is what Rodeo is all about - camaraderie."

They both know their uniqueness as twins makes them stand out from their fellow Airmen a little more, but it's okay.

"We understand that twins are closer than most brothers and sisters," Bryan said. "My brother's my best friend and I like hanging out with him all the time. We know a lot about our jobs and we feel we can do anything our jobs call us to do on our aircraft. Everyone who knows us, knows what we're about."

Brent added, "We've done several temporary duty assignments together and the flight crews loved that."

The twins aren't the only ones from their family in the military. Their brother, Senior Airman Andy Pechanec, works in the 325th AMXS at Tyndall AFB, Fla., as an F-22A Raptor maintenance crew chief. Brent said his father enjoys having his sons in the military.

"I know my dad likes to brag us all up because he has three sons in the military," Brent said. "With three sons on three different air frames - there's no wonder about that."

When Brent and Bryan return to New Jersey, they'll resume doing "everything together," Bryan said. Whether it's riding motorcycles, playing basketball, or washing their trucks together (which are also the same), they'll look back at Rodeo 2007 as a special time.

"It's been a great experience," Brent said. "The team unity between our two (maintenance) teams has been great. I'm planning on doing it again."

"Me too," Bryan added.