Sibling bonds can create the strongest relationships. The threads their household ties are strengthened by a shared upbringing and years of youthful competitiveness. That shared power can enable siblings to succeed collectively when following related life paths. The Gagnier brothers acknowledge the rarity of their state of affairs and have taken full benefit of their distinctive bond.
On February 4, 2023, Lt. Richard Gagnier was correctly relieved as commanding officer of Naval Safety Forces (NSF) Newport by somebody very close to and expensive to his coronary heart: his youthful brother, Lt. j.g. Robert Gagnier.
“Once I noticed the outcomes come out (project to NSF Newport) I instantly laughed to myself in my workplace,” mentioned Robert. “This case couldn’t be any extra distinctive.”
The Gagnier brothers come from a direct lineage of naval service. Their father, Randy Gagnier, retired chief mess administration specialist, served 22 years on lively obligation.
“My boys have given me the best supply of pleasure,” mentioned Randy Gagnier. “The Navy has been so large for myself and our household, and watching them each be a part of, make rank and change into commanding officers of Reserve items — after which get to alleviate each other — has been indescribable.”
Richard knew from a younger age he was going to comply with in his father’s footsteps. “It was one thing that I all the time needed to emulate,” mentioned Richard. “Following my father’s
footsteps into the Navy was about the one actual course I had in life.”
Robert agreed.
“Seeing our father come dwelling each day in uniform from as early as we will recall and speaking with him about his experiences massively influenced and definitely impressed our determination to hitch the Navy,” he mentioned.
The Gagnier brothers’ Naval careers have been a horserace to say the least. Richard was the primary of the 2 to attend boot camp in Nice Lakes, Illinois, in the summertime of
2006. Robert adopted shortly behind Richard after receiving his highschool diploma the following 12 months. Each brothers attended master-at-arms class ‘A’ faculty in San Antonio, Texas following their bootcamp commencement.
Using the Nationwide Name to Service Program, Robert served a interval of two years on lively obligation adopted by a transition to the Chosen Reserve in March, 2008. Though he’d enlisted one 12 months after Richard, Robert was promoted to MA1 in 2011, one 12 months earlier than his older brother.
To not be outdone, Richard transitioned to the Navy Reserve and have become the primary of the brothers to earn a fee through the Restricted Responsibility Officer (LDO) program as a Safety Officer in 2016. In 2019, as soon as once more motivated by his older brother’s accomplishments, Robert joined Richard within the Wardroom after using the LDO program as nicely.
Not solely did Richard and Robert serve collectively for a protracted stretch of years as Reserve Sailors, however the duo additionally mirrored one another of their civilian careers as nicely, tapping into their naval service regulation enforcement expertise.
Following his separation from lively obligation service, Robert served as a Division of Protection police officer in his civilian profession and at present serves because the Alternate Fuels Safety Officer at Naval Shipyard Portsmouth. Richard served as a police officer within the state of New Hampshire and is at present a Federal Agent for the Division of Homeland Safety.
Richard assumed command of Naval Reserve NSF Newport in 2021 and appears ahead to his subsequent project as commanding officer of NSF New London in Groton, Connecticut.
Robert anticipated the turnover with Richard and even feels as if he has a built-in benefit in assuming command, because of his shut relationship along with his brother.
“My brother and I are primary on one another’s pace dial whether or not certainly one of us finds success in one thing or has an impediment or problem,” mentioned Robert. “I’ve had the privilege of being within the wings throughout his whole tour in Newport. Fortunately, that has given me a a lot better understanding of what I’m taking command of and accountability for.”
Richard believes his brother’s intelligence, judgement and empathy will make Robert an distinctive commanding officer at NSF Newport in his succession.
Following humbly in his brother’s footsteps, Robert is keen to do all the pieces he can to proceed shifting NSF Newport in a optimistic course.
“It feels good to return right into a group that’s already discovering success in doing issues nicely and being efficient already,” mentioned Robert. “They’ve discovered a working method and I’m excited to proceed to maneuver that ahead and proceed to evolve.”
Though Richard is headed to Connecticut to execute his following set of orders, Robert has no concern that the gap between them will create divide of their tight-knit bond.
“The 2 of us are so shut,” mentioned Robert of his brother. “He’s my built-in greatest good friend.”
