BASRAH, Iraq - Sibling rivalry isn’t always  about animosity or jealousy. Sometimes it can spark healthy competitions  between brothers or sisters and helps them accomplish their goals. One soldier  attributes his success in the military to the rivalry between him and his  brother.
Army Spc. Andrew Deason, of the 36th Infantry Division  Special Troops Battalion, Texas National Guard, strives hard for military  excellence in order to out-do his older brother, an active duty specialist in  the Army.
While Deason serves as an Iraqi security forces knowledge  management representative at Contingency Operating Base Basra, his brother,  Army Spc. Brian Brown, a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division.
Although Deason enlisted two years after his brother,  Deason said he is so far winning the competition between the two to be the  first to achieve certain military goals. Graduating basic combat training,  advanced individual training, and being promoted are a few of those goals.
“After he enlisted, I still considered myself better than  him,” Deason said. “I told him, ‘Alright. I can do everything you do and  better.’” 
His brother obtained his current rank in two and a half  years, he said. Deason was a specialist in two. 
Brown graduated basic military training. Deason graduated  basic training, too, but as an honor graduate. 
And though his brother was an honor graduate from his  AIT, Deason one-upped him and was distinguished honor graduate at his AIT.
The brothers also compete to see who can meet the  highest-ranking military officials.
“When it comes to meeting people, I’ve got him beat so  far, Deason said. “He’s met [Army] Gen. Austin [and] the chief of staff. Me,  I’ve met Gen. Austin, the chief of staff, and the sergeant major of the Army.  So, I’m a little ahead of him so far.”
During Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler  III’s visit to COB Basra, Deason was presented with a coin for excelling in his  mission here. While handing him the coin, Chandler complimented Deason on his  demeanor. 
This same excellence has not gone unnoticed by his  leadership here.
“Spc. Deason is an invaluable part of our section,” said  Army Sgt 1st Class James R. Gifford, Iraqi security forces section  noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “He has a great personality and his  positivity promotes a higher level of morale in our section daily. He has an  extremely strong work ethic and continues to search for ways to improve through  both civilian and military education, as well as daily experiences and others  jobs.”
The rivalry between him and his brother keeps Deason  motivated to accomplish his goals, but he also attributes his drive to succeed  as just being part of his personality.