By Army Sgt. Brittany Johnson

Twins, friends and Army Staff Sgts. Joshua Hough and Jacob Hough became permanent battle buddies the day they were born.

They were practically inseparable growing up, said Jacob.

From playing the same sports, to hanging out with the same friends, they did everything as a unit. They even bought their first truck together.

“We started driving and we’d take turns,” Jacob said. “I’d drive to school, and he’d drive back.”

Their brotherly bond didn’t stop after high school graduation.

Answering the Call to Serve

When they turned 17, the Hough brothers both decided to join the Mississippi Army National Guard.

“We wanted to do something with the Armed Forces,” Jacob said. “We thought about the Marines. Then the Army National Guard came knocking at the door, and we said this is something we can do together.”

“We really wanted to deploy and serve the country and just to be able to explore the world a little bit,“ Josh said.

Sign up for our emails to stay connected to the USO and the troops we serve.

After enlisting, the brothers left for basic training – but were separated for most of the experience.

“I saw him the first week I was there, but it wasn’t very long,” Jacob said. “It was pretty tough, because I hadn’t been without my brother my whole life.”

“We would meet up at church on Sundays and hang out for a couple hours then go back to our respective batteries,” Josh said.

Upon graduating basic training, the brothers were reunited for their advanced individual training and then headed off to their first unit near their hometown of Ackerman, Miss.

“We went into the battery knowing at least each other,” said Josh. “So that made it easier.”

Becoming ‘Hough One and Two’

Being the new person in a new unit can be hard, but for Jacob and Josh, their fellow service members took them in like family.

“Most people in our unit hadn’t seen twins in the National Guard,” Jacob said. “We were called Hough one and two or the Hough brothers.”

As soon as they were settled in they couldn’t help but to take advantage of the situation.

“Once we got to know everybody we started messing with them,” Jacob said. “One time we were standing in the front of the formation, and the smoke [platoon leader] was talking to us. He turned around, and we switched spots. He didn’t see it, but everyone else just started laughing.”

A Friendly Rivalry

Throughout the course of their military career, the brothers have managed to be assigned to the same battery and advance in rank together, sparking a friendly rivalry between them.

“It’s definitely made me progress a lot faster than the majority, because it’s a competition,” Josh said.

Now the brothers are both section chiefs and preparing for their first deployment together with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. They will be in separate platoons throughout the deployment, but they will still be in the same battery, said Josh.

“It’s always good to have someone from home right there with you, so you don’t miss home as much,” Josh said.

“We wanted to do it together,” Jacob said. “It would be tough if he was somewhere else.”