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A father and son who both serve in the U.S. Army have progressed in tandem since enlisting with the same battalion. They were recently deployed together, promoted together, and have pinned each other to their new ranks in a ceremony that was broadcast virtually to their nearest and dearest.
Newly promoted Chief Warrant Officer 5 David D. Corbi and his son, Sgt. David A. Corbi, are both deployed with the Army’s 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (ECAB). In August, the father-son duo had the pleasure of making their respective promotions official in a ceremony at the 28th ECAB’s mobilization station in Fort Hood, Texas.
A number of fellow soldiers were in attendance to congratulate the men on their achievement.
U.S. Army CW5 David Corbi (L) and Sgt. David Corbi pose for a photo after a promotion ceremony in their honor at the 28th ECAB’s mobilization station in Fort Hood, Texas. (Capt. Travis Mueller/DVIDSHUB)
The U.S. Army shared a photo of the proud pair on Facebook on Sept. 2, quoting CW5 Corbi as he praised his son. “He’s a motivated soldier, he works hard, he’s definitely earned the rank,” said Corbi, “and I’m just super proud to be there and pin it on him.”
The newly decorated father, who is on his fifth deployment, added that it was a “big deal” to be the person to pin his son an NCO, according to the U.S. Army.
The feeling was reciprocated by the younger Corbi. “It’s neat to carry on the family tradition,” the sergeant expressed. “I’m proud to see [my father] reach CW5, and proud to be here for my family and friends that can’t be here to see this.”
Corbi pins the rank of sergeant on his son as both serve with the 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. (Capt. Travis Mueller/DVIDSHUB)
However, the Corbis’ family and friends were able to “beam in” for the proceedings as the promotion ceremony was broadcast live on social media, allowing loved ones to witness the father and son receive their new rankings in real time.
Netizens also congratulated the father-son duo through the U.S. Army’s Facebook page.
“That’s awesome!” wrote one netizen. “Good luck in your journey together and thank you for your service. God bless you both.”
“Congratulations,” wrote another. “Family dedication and tradition is one of the great cornerstones of our Armed Forces!”
Family members tune in live as father and son are promoted to chief warrant officer 5 and sergeant respectively. (Capt. Travis Mueller/DVIDSHUB)
The elder Corbi’s new ranking is of particular note, as CW5 is the fifth (and highest) Warrant Officer rank in the U.S. Army. CW5s are master-level leaders in their field, explains Military Ranks, in both the technical and tactical aspects of military strategy.
These warrant officers are required to lead and represent their faction, on top of undertaking the more typical warrant officer responsibilities of previous ranks.
CW5 David Corbi smiles at his son, Sgt. David Corbi, after being pinned to his current rank during the promotion ceremony in Fort Hood, Texas (Capt. Travis Mueller/DVIDSHUB)
For the newly promoted Corbis, military service runs in the family. A number of men in the Corbi family line have served in the U.S. military previously, as well as the elder Corbi’s daughters.
For the CW5’s wife, witnessing both her husband and son ascend the military ranks together is a source of comfort, according to an interview with the family.
The already close-knit Army brigade that the pair belongs to is strengthened further, she suggested, by the bonafide familial connection between her husband and son, making their deployment that much easier to bear.
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This reminds me of the Father/Son story in Vietnam were each rescued the other in separate crashes with their helicopters.