DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — When you join the military it comes with a guarantee you’ll be stationed in one of the hundreds of military installations around the world.
It’s a journey that can be challenging by itself.
As identical twins, the Hamilton brothers are graduating from North Carolina Central University together.
They haven’t strayed far from each other’s sides — even when joining the military together.
The pair were commissioned on Friday at a ceremony in Goodson Chapel in the Duke Divinity School.
Coming from a family of four siblings and numerous aunts and uncles who have served in the military, the Hamilton brothers — Corey and Cornelius — already understood the road they were going to travel at a young age.
“They just have always had this connection that was deeper than I could explain in words,” said mom Michelle Hamilton.
In their life of 23 years, the word ‘separation’ was not used in Hamiltons twins’ vocabulary — having only been apart from one another for three months.
Both will be protecting our country but in different avenues with Cornelius joining in the armor division and Cory with life on the ground in the infantry.
The pair signed up on Friday at a ceremony at Duke University.
“We have always been together through elementary school high school, and we went to basic training together he was right beside me,” Corey said Friday.
There isn’t your traditional sibling rivalry between the brothers but rather a support to always keep the other on the right track.
“We work out together sometimes we study together he keeps me in shape and I keep him in shape,” said Cornelius Hamilton.
The pair were in the ROTC at North Carolina Central University.
“Its always made me push a hundred times harder,” Corey Hamilton said.
Although they will work at different forward operating bases the bond will not subside and the commitment will stay strong, they say.
“Even if they aren’t stationed together its such a common experience they will keep that strong bond and they will never be separated and they will always stay together,” said General Bob Brown, the Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific
Only time will tell as to how fair the Hamiltons can take their military careers, but if you ask mom they are just beginning
“They were built for this is a milestone they reached today but they know they have many more milestones,” said mom Michelle Hamilton.
The Army ROTC commissioning ceremony was held in Goodson Chapel in the Duke Divinity School.
