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Sons of a first sergeant, the Strasser brothers learned what
military life was about long before they raised their right hands.
For Matthew and Jeremy Strasser of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National
Guard, military service is a family affair.
Their father,
retired Sgt. Maj. Gary Strasser, served in the Iowa Army National
Guard for more than 37 years. He encouraged his children to consider
the National Guard and two of his sons made that commitment nearly
25 years ago.
For Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Strasser, Command Sergeant
Major (CSM) of the 1-113th Cav., enlisting in Troop B at the
age of 18 was well received at home.
"I like to tell
people 'Dad made me,'" Matthew said. "He was, at the time I
joined, the B Troop first sergeant. I didn't have much
direction, so the military was a good option for me."
As for the younger brother, Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Strasser,
Operations Sergeant Major, 1-113th Cav., he knew the
military was the place for him. He joined Troop B two years
later, following in his father’s and big brother’s
footsteps.
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June 16, 2017 - Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Strasser, (left) Operations
Sergeant Major, and his brother Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Strasser,
Command Sergeant Major, 1st Squadron,113th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard,
oversee their cavalry troops in the field during annual training at
Camp Ripley, Minnesosta. (Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt.
Sara Maniscalco Robinson)
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“I joined in high school. My brother was already a
specialist in one of the scout platoons,” Jeremy said.
What Jeremy found was a family that stretched beyond his
dad and brother.
“The ‘cav’ in itself is a brotherhood,” said Jeremy. “With the
camaraderie in our organization, they are all like my brothers."
Whether it’s brothers from the same mother or “brothers from
another mother,” when family works together it’s about being fair
and impartial.
“Honestly, we’ve all tried to keep ourselves
separate from each other in uniform,” Matthew said. “It’s never good
to show favoritism or anything, so I think my dad went the absolute
opposite direction with me and was way harder on me than he was on
anyone else. But it helped mold me into what I am today.”
That “molding” has forged two leaders committed to the welfare and
discipline of a 450-Soldier strong family.
Like many
families, the Strasser brothers joke and have friendly competition,
but both agree it’s great to have family around.
“I’ve
deployed with my dad and I’ve deployed with my brother,” Matthew
said. “When you’re deployed, that’s pretty special to have a family
member there because you’re able to see them on holidays.”
Even when the two brothers aren’t on duty, conversations around the
house can sometimes turn to military matters.
“It’s kind of
unique that we’ve all become sergeants major,” Matthew said. “When
the three of us get together, I joke with people that we’ve got an
E27 in the house.”
“And what would life be without a little
sibling rivalry?” Jeremy said, who has spent most of his career just
one step behind his brother.
“I’ve been trying to catch my
brother for 21 years,” Jeremy said. “He can’t go any higher than
CSM, so I’m going to catch him. I’m hoping to get the CSM wreath
someday.”
Regardless of what the future holds, these
brothers have left a lasting imprint on a family; the same family
that’s left a lasting imprint on them – the cavalry.
By Army National Guard by 1st Sgt. Sara Maniscalco Robinson
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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