Gulf Breeze man makes history as one of the first ever promoted by Iraqi police
By Phil Foster Special to the News

Submitted photo MG Karim, commander of the 1st National Police Division, presents newly-promoted Master Sergeants Judd Mooso (left) and Chris Luchsinger of Gulf Breeze with an Iraqi medal after he promoted them in a recent ceremony. Both NCOs are assigned to the 1st National Police Transition Team in Baghdad, Iraq.

Promotion to master sergeant is a memorable event. For two Army Reserve Soldiers, it was also an historic event. Master Sergeants Judd Mooso and Chris Luschinger, drill sergeants with 1st Brigade, 3/485th Infantry, 108th Division, got their new stripes from Major General Abdul Kareerm, commander of the 1st Division, Iraqi National Police. Mooso and Luchsinger are assigned to the 1st Division National Police Transition Team (NPTT) as operations advisors.

The two non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are best friends and have served in the same units for the past 10 years. This was the third time that they have been promoted at the same time. This promotion is one they will not soon forget.

"This was an historic event showing the Iraqis the NCO development of the American Army that we are trying to develop with them." Luchsinger said.

Mooso and Luchsinger have been drill sergeants since 2001 and volunteered to deploy to Iraq. One of their biggest roles is NCO development in the National Police. Mooso said the promotion ceremony helps in the development of the NCO corps in the National Police.

"Our goal is to teach the NCOs' role and responsibility in the military," Mooso said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It shows how far we have come with the Iraqis since Desert Storm. They were fighting against us then and now we are allies."

Colonel Ray Royalty, commander of the 1st Division NPTT, approached Kareem with the idea for the promotion ceremony. Royalty had the opportunity to promote the two NCOs to sergeant first class as their battalion commander while serving with 3/323 Infantry in Clemson, S.C.

"It was a unique opportunity for the team, Sergeants Luchsinger and Mooso and a chance to show the Iraqis the significance of promotions and an opportunity to show them how we treat our NCOs," Royalty said. "Kareem's response (to the opportunity) was that he felt it was a great opportunity for him to interface with our NCOs. Our goal is to develop an NCO corps by demonstrating the significance of NCO promotions."

For Luchsinger, this is his second trip to Iraq. He served in Operation Desert Storm with the 82nd Airborne Division while on active duty. After his discharge, Luchsinger joined the National Guard in 1997, where he met Mooso while they were serving in the same squad. The two men have been best friends since and joined the Army Reserves together in 2001. Two of their friends they served with in the National Guard and as drill sergeants are also serving in Iraq.

Mooso also served on active duty. He participated in Operation Restore Hope with the 10th Mountain Division in Somalia, where he met his wife, Kim, who is also an Army veteran. They have been married for 10 years.

Off-duty, the two men spend a lot of time together as well. Their families are friends and they go on vacations together.

"We share a lot of the same goals in the military," Mooso said. "We enjoy the military and have the same train of thought. The weird thing is that we are not competitive in the military. We agree on the way that we should do things and we spend a lot time discussing stuff."

The two men, who room together in Iraq, are called "The Twins" by their fellow team members because they are always together.

"Our wives think it is funny," Mooso said. "Everyone thinks we're brothers."

Their time together in the military will not end when they return home. Luchsinger, who has 18 years of service, and Mooso, with 16 years, will serve in the same battalion as first sergeants in 3/485th at Fort Benning, Ga. They had been drilling in Pensacola, Fla. Both are natives of Florida.

Luchsinger lives in Gulf Breeze. And is a recruiter for a human resources company, a position he has held for 10 years. He and his wife, Daphney, a first grade teacher have been married for 12 years. They have three children: Madison, 12; Keegan, eight; and Ema, one.

Mooso and his family live in Niceville. He is a safety program coordinator. He and his wife, a billing and accounts manager, have two children: Kyleigh, 10; and Jayden, nearly five.