2012 ESO of the Year
Q& A
Ensuring Coasties and Their Dependents Have Access to Education Brian D.E. Streichert Education Services Officer Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie Brian Streichert is originally from Cedarville, a small town located on Lake Huron in the eastern upper peninsula of Michigan. He began his military career in 1993 when he entered Navy recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Center. From there, he moved across the street to attend Hospital Corpsman “A” school. After graduating, he was stationed in Parris Island, S.C., where he became interested in serving in connection with the Marine Corps. He then attended Fleet Marine Service School in San Diego. During a tour in Okinawa, Japan, Streichert began to utilize his off time to provide medical procedure instruction and first aid training opportunities to the Marines with whom he was stationed. Once back in the U.S. at Camp Lejeune, N.C., he enrolled in on-base courses through Campbell University. Desiring a full-time commitment to education, Streichert left the Navy and enrolled in Lake Superior State University. Utilizing his Montgomery GI Bill, he graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in history/secondary education. After accomplishing this goal, he focused his attention back to the military, and joined the Michigan National Guard as a combat medic. Shortly thereafter he secured a position at Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School in the eastern upper peninsula, teaching history and social studies to a small community of Native American students. In the summer of 2006, Streichert was deployed to Baghdad, for 16 months, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return, he accepted a commissioning into the Medical Service Corps. Streichert sought out a position within the U.S. Coast Guard as an education services specialist at Sector Sault Sainte Marie, where he has been since 2008. Over the last five years, Streichert has worked to develop relationships with local area colleges. In addition to coordinating the beneficial aspects of on-site education, he has seen a reduction in the standard tuition rate for both Coast Guard and National Guard members, spouses, as well as dependents. Over a two-year span, he provided assistance and guidance to hundreds of members and spouses and increased the number of members pursing higher education from 11 percent to 58 percent. He will soon complete his master’s in military studies with a concentration in asymmetrical warfare from American Military University, further proving his commitment to education. Streichert was recognized as the Coast Guard Education Services Officer of the Year in 2012. Q: How has your background both in personal and professional capacities helped to prepare you for your role as an ESO for the Coast Guard? What led you to this career choice? www.MAE-kmi.com
A: That is an interesting question because if I can recall correctly, it was a similar question I was asked during my interview for this position. I was serving in the Navy as a Fleet Marine Force corpsman, on Okinawa. I can recall going out to the field for weeks at a time and seeing Marines being able to leave the field, return to the rear, shower, shave with a stationary mirror and attend classes. I attempted to enroll in classes shortly after leaving the field only to find that the rules were different for the “Docs” out there. Because there was limited medical coverage, we were unable to leave. I remembered that the next time I was able to choose my duty station. It was at Camp Lejeune, N.C., that I began taking courses that were offered on base, through Campbell University. I found that the instructors were very understanding that we were different than the average college student and they gave us a little leeway when it came to attendance and assignment deadlines. That began my college career and I carried that on by using the Montgomery GI Bill to attend Lake Superior State University [LSSU] in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. It did end up taking me almost seven years to complete my undergraduate. I finally, in 2003, would complete my degree in history, with a concentration in secondary education. I taught middle school and high school students at a very small, Native American school called the Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School [BMOCS]. I was the only male teacher in this school at MAE 8.4 | 17