Photo by Cpl. Meloney R. Moses Right, Cpl. Andrew Dewey marches to graduation trailed by his younger brother Cpl. Brian Dewey on Feb. 26 outside of Little Hall.

Now, American embassies in GenËve, Switzerland and Nicosia, Cyprus, prepare to receive Cpl. Andrew Dewey and Cpl. Brian Dewey who completed Marine Security Guard School, together. More than 1,600 miles of dry lands and ocean water will separate them now that class 2-10 has graduated.

‘‘We didn’t intentionally do it together,” said Andrew. ‘‘I didn’t even know he was signing up. I called him to tell him I signed up, and he told me he did too.”

When he signed up to join MSG, Brian was deployed with the USS Dennis and did not know his brother, Andrew, was signing up for the same class.

‘‘He had tried to get into the class prior to this one,” said Andrew.

Unable to make it into the first class of 2010, Brian was able to get a seat in the second, alongside his brother.

Separated by detachments, the brothers spent very little time together during their six-week trek through the course.

‘‘We didn’t technically work together,” said Andrew. ‘‘We were in different[detachments] so we weren’t actuallytogether. We checked up on each other every once in awhile.”

The once-large class dwindled by more than 40 students since it began in January. Having each other around was enough motivation to continue pushing through, the brothers agreed.

‘‘Growing up where we did, there were not many kids,” said Andrew. ‘‘So, we were each other’s friend. We aren’t always together, but we have each other’s backs.”

During the course, there were times when giving up seemed to be the best option.

‘‘During the OC spray was when Ireally wanted to give up,” said Andrew. ‘‘A friend back home who went through the Police Academy described it as ‘being punched in the face with a flaming cactus,’ and that’s exactly what it felt like. It didn’t help that I was racing against my brother to get through the practical application.”

‘‘I was nervous at first because I was not sure what to expect,” said Brian. ‘‘After a few weeks, I had no doubt in my mind I was going to make it through the school.”

When the brothers prepare to part ways to their respective embassies, they will be in rotation for the next three years with limited visits with one another and other family members.

The distance will not affect their relationship any more than it has in the past, explained Andrew.

‘‘Our deployment rotations were offset,” Andrew said. ‘‘So, we didn’t see each other that much. This gives us both theopportunity to visit each other and see cool new places.”

Awaiting transition to countries abroad, the brothers continue to look to each other for support for what’s to come in their military careers.

‘‘School is only the beginning of this program,” said Brian. ‘‘But I know if I focus on my job out there, I will succeed.”

— Correspondent: meloney.moses@usmc.mil