They would arise every morning knowing they had the important responsibility of protecting Department of Defense weapon systems, tactical resources, and the lives of military personnel.

Robert and Richard Roth, twin brothers from Lehighton, recently retired from the Air Force after 27 years as high-level security officers.Sent into different directions after enlistment to accomplish their missions, they traveled around the world, including multiple deployments to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.With a humble pride, they retell their story as brothers growing up in a small town before rising in rank to become decorated Air Force colonels.Although Richard was born four minutes before Robert, their physical features from their birth to this very day are virtually identical. "I don't know what it feels like to not be a twin," Robert said.Richard says that whenever he or Robert got into trouble as a young boy, their father, Donald, decided upon a simple method of discipline."Whether it was my fault or Robert's fault, he would spank both of us," says Richard with a smile. "I'm not certain that he could tell us apart."The boys grew up with a competitive spirit, wanting to outwork each other in school, outplay each other in sports, and whenever they had to settle an issue, throw on the gloves and outbox each other in the basement.Yet, they never competed about their life's dreams, because like the noses on their faces, their goals were the same."We grew up around hunting and weapons," Richard says. "Dad was in the Army Reserve and the National Guard and our older brother was in the Army military police. So from the start, Robert and I wanted careers in criminal justice and the military."Same goals, same pathsAfter graduating cum laude from Kutztown University, Richard and Robert were both awarded fellowships to teach while earning master's degrees at Northeastern University in Boston."It was a no-brainer to delay our military careers and go to Northeastern," says Robert. "We earned our masters in criminology in nine months through their accelerated program."The brothers were accepted into the Army, but with no promises they could become military police, they turned their sights toward the Air Force.Enlisted in the Air Force in 1987, Richard and Robert were separated from each other for the first time in their lives.Richard was sent to England Air Force Base in Louisiana, while Robert took his bags to Lowry AFB in Colorado."For the next 27 years, our paths crossed three times, once when we were deployed in Saudi Arabia and twice in Washington, D.C.," Robert says.In 1990, Richard was deployed for seven months to Saudi Arabia during the Desert Storm operation. He was an adjutant and operational management officer for the Flying Tigers, a group of specially selected pilots and airplanes, famous for being prepared to fly any and all missions."There really wasn't much danger to us at first because the base was secured," he says. "But as the air portion of the war began, the threat of Scud attacks intensified, as did the fear from other unconventional attacks from Saddam Hussein's retaliation efforts. I have to admit I slept with an open Bible on top of me for the first night of the air war."Robert was deployed to Saudi Arabia as an air base ground defense commander. He was in charge of multiple security force elements that protected four military compounds from terrorist attack."We kept it pretty safe, although there was one incident when two of our men were wounded during a gunfire attack against one of our transport buses."Under attackRichard was deployed in 2006 as Security Forces Commander for 10 months at Iraq's National Police Academy. He was in charge of securing training for hundreds of Iraqi cadets undergoing preparation to become police officers. He had to bring together a "volatile mix" of Iraqi, Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish, and U.S. military to protect the students, the instructors, and other site personnel."We trusted few people," Richard says. "At any time, we could fall under attack because one or more of our trainees, secretly loyal to Hussein, could give away the location of our operations or supply vehicles when they left the base. Almost every day our buildings shook from car bombs blowing up in Iraqi suburbs outside the base. In fact, my vehicle was hit three times by roadside Improvised Explosive Devices."When asked about how he thwarted his own fear of being wounded or killed, Richard explained that he had created his own mental defense mechanism."Whenever I would feel the heat from a mortar flash near my face, I would imagine being inside a video game, trying to convince myself that this is fun."After another tour in Saudi Arabia, Robert was deployed into Afghanistan in 2013 for six months as NATO's Deputy Commander for Force Protection at Kandahar Airfield. He led over 1,000 coalition forces to secure the base and the 520-square-mile surrounding area to protect the largest NATO base and busiest one runway airfield in the world. Each day, radar systems sent off alarms. All personnel had just seconds to jump into bunkers during rocket attacks.Robert recalls that the most surprising attack, however, occurred inside the base perimeter."An Afghan was on patrol inside a host nation security tower. Unknown to us, he had befriended the Taliban, a recognized terrorist group, and one day he decided to turn his weapon against coalition forces, killing two and severely injuring several others."The Afghan surrendered to Afghan forces immediately after the attack.Service awardsRobert spent the final years of his Air Force career in Germany, as a colonel and chief in charge of anti-terrorism for the U.S. military in Europe. His responsibility was to protect nearly a half million defense department personnel living in and traveling throughout Europe, Turkey, Israel and Caucasus.The brothers retired with enough service awards to fill a display case.Robert has been awarded a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Bronze Star Medal for service in Afghanistan, and two Defense Meritorious Service Medals amongst other achievement awards.Richard earned similar medals including a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, and the Army Combat Action Badge. He was also awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, while he completed his career as the Provost Marshal for the United States Forces in Japan.With ill and aging parents, the Roth brothers decided together to retire this past year."Unfortunately, my mother-in-law passed away literally eight hours after we returned home and then our mom passed last month," Robert said.Now, after all the drama the brothers have experienced in almost three decades of service, they have returned to the quiet small-town life.Robert, who has two children, Cody and Kayli, intends to build a new home in Mahoning Township this spring where he will live with his wife, Kelly.Richard enjoys spending time in his newly purchased home in Franklin Township with his wife, Yeliz and his children, Caitlin, Hunter, Cheyenna and Joseph.Throughout their years of duty, the Roths had applied the words, "work smarter" to protect the lives of military personnel so that these men and women would live to enjoy their retirement too.For now, the brothers are happy to resume their competitive spirit. Now they can "play smarter" against each other while throwing horseshoes, playing games of cards, or trying to catch the biggest fish in the lake.