Posted on 03/14/2006 5:22:10 PM PST by SandRat
FORT HUACHUCA — Although news reports indicate the Army is having a hard time enlisting first-time soldiers a recruiter in Pennsylvania got a two-for-one deal when Cassandra and Calista Walker joined together.
When the 23-year-old twins walked into the recruiter’s office “His eyes bulged, I bet he earned a big bonus for us,” said Cassandra, the older of the two by five minutes.
Calista said, “We didn’t know if the Army could handle the two of us. We were a package deal.”
The younger twin, Calista, notes she is a half-inch taller than her sister, and then sheepishly adds sotto voce, three pounds heavier.
She excuses her extra weight as being caused by her slightly taller stature over Cassandra.
Born prematurely at seven months, they each weighed about 3 pounds, with Cassandra coming in two ounces more than Calista.
For the past four months Walker 1 — Cassandra — and Walker 2 — Calista — to some of the noncommissioned officers at the Intelligence Center, have been waiting to start a nearly-20-week course to become human intelligence collectors. Both soldiers are specialists.
But, the Army kept them busy during their wait, required because of pending security clearances.
“We’re experts at moving rocks, doing desert landscaping,” Cassandra said.
But, Calista added there was much “soldierization” training as well.
Today, the two sisters, whose family nicknames are Sis, yes both are Sis to their parents and brother, start their course as members of Company F, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion.
Because of the increase in intelligence training on the post, classes are backed up and not only the Walker twins have to wait but so do other soldiers.
“We’re always up for a challenge,” Calista said.
They come from the small Pennsylvania town of Towanda, which has a population of slightly more than 3,200. The community is about 20 miles from the New York state line and 40 miles from Elmira, N.Y. There is also an East Towanda, North Towanda and South Towanda nearby without population figures, but no West Towanda.
Graduates of Towanda High School in 2001, they went on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where they both earned bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice.
The twins had different minors, with Cassandra computer information systems and Calista psychology.
“I’m into computers,” Cassandra said.
Calista added, “I like to figure things out.”
Their ending grade point averages after four years in college was .02 difference with Cassandra earning 3.25 and Calista 3.23.
After a while some people can tell who is who, they said.
“We both look alike, but we have our differences,” Cassandra said.
Calista has a small scar on her forehead, but it is hard to see when she is wearing her beret.
As for Cassandra, her face is a little more rounded.
Calista likes to wear gold jewelry and Cassandra silver.
But, they wear their watches on different arms.
However, to the unknowing, the games twins play is part of their makeup.
During basic training they were in different platoons and one day they decided to trick the drill sergeants by exchanging places.
Unfortunately, they were caught in the midst of the change.
Tricks twin play always has to do with confusing others.
Although their high school classmates knew them, teachers were more in the dark.
More than once Cassandra would go to Calista’s classes and vice versa.
As for their classes on post, their eyes brightly shine, imagining what kind of fun they can have.
If they hear some instructor or drill sergeant call out “Walker,” both may respond, pleading innocence, on which one is being called upon.
But, behind their smiles and mischievous twinkling eyes, they are serious about why they enlisted in the Army.
Enlisting for five years was no easy decision, they said.
While they have degrees in criminal justice and applied for employment with the Pittsburgh Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, they recognized if they want to be investigators one of the best training grounds is in the Army intelligence community.
They were offered jobs with the Secret Service uniform division, but their long-term career is to become special agents in that organization or the FBI. But, they may make the Army a career.
Having a degree is one thing, but obtaining experience is a plus, the soldiers said.
As human intelligence collectors, they will be able to gain experience in questioning people to obtain information, which can translate later if they opt to seek law enforcement jobs.
Their personalities, developed during the years as not only twin sisters but as buddies and friends, are leading them down the same path, the two said.
Although Cassandra is older, Calista said she knows she came second because she has a mission.
“I was brought into this world to take care of her,” Calista said.
A shy smile crossed Cassandra’s face and with a wink she nonverbally communicated her job is to look out after her sister as well.
Woe to anyone who gets between them.
In high school and college, the pair played basketball and softball.
It was then they had different nicknames, with Cassandra keeping Sis and Calista being called “Biff.”
The name Biff was given her because she would also always trip, Cassandra said.
When playing softball, Cassandra is an outfielder, while Calista is an infielder.
As part of their enlisting, they have been promised a joint assignment for their first duty station after leaving Fort Huachuca.
They hope it will be Hawaii.
But, they know it will not be long before they will be heading for Iraq or some other hot spot in the world.
Their similarities are not only physical, but they also enjoy many like-minded things.
Both like the author James Patterson, who writes crime-based novels. The twins are currently reading different books written by Patterson.
They have similar tastes in movies, especially comedy and drama, and admit they are suckers for tear jerkers like “The Notebook,” which some have called “the ultimate chick flick.”
Last Christmas they were home on leave and went shopping, this time separately, to buy a gift for each other.
When the packages were opened on Christmas Day, Cassandra received a pair of black Nike shoes from her sister, the same type she purchased for Calista.
While waiting to start class, the soldiers’ mother, Myrna, and 19-year-old brother, Michael, and an aunt are visiting Arizona.
They have been given some time to spend with the family. Their father Mike could not make the trip.
Of their mother, the twins said when they were younger she dressed them alike, until one day they asked her to stop.
But, now they are dressing alike again. Laughing, they almost simultaneously said, “We wear Army uniforms.
Calista Walker, left, and her older (by 5 minutes) twin sister Cassandra are starting the human intelligence collector course on Fort Huachuca today. The 23-year-old sisters, from Towanda, Pa., have been on the post for four months, waiting to be assigned to a class. (Bill Hess-Herald/Review)
What's the advantage of becoming a enlisted peson if you have a degree? Why not become a commissioned officers?
Actual Interogation and Human Intelligence Collection experience instead of general knowledge of it and mainly management experience.
I think Pat Tillman who played pro football for the Cardinals had a degree too but chose to enlist. Some folks just want to serve, and not make it a career. I honor them. Still, If I had to do it over, I'd become an officer. More retirement $$$$.
Barriers to entry...you can't just show up and say "sign me up to be an officer--I have a degree."
And besides, there are a lot of career fields that being enlisted in much more fun then being an officer...this being one of them.
These two will progress up the ranks pretty quickly. You get more respect as an NCO than you do as a lieutenant.
The advantage is: An enlisted man can tell it like it is and get good evals. If a commissioned type tells it like it is he will generally ruin his FITREPS and his chance for advancement.
If they excel in their course they'll probably be offered a direct commission. Certain MOS's can get you a direct commission.
Several reasons: (a)officers get less sleep than enlisted (b)privates are more squared away than an Lt. (c)major butt kissing is a job req.
Because having a sheepskin does not guarantee you know how to spell "person".
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