Chaplain (Captain) Jeff Struecker was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He entered the
Army as an enlisted soldier in September 1987 and remained on active duty until
April 2000 when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army
Reserve as a Chaplain Candidate. He confessed Christ as Savior as a teenager
and was called to the ministry while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in
Ft. Benning, Georgia.
He served for ten years in the 75th Ranger Regiment in positions from Ranger
Reconnaissance Specialist to Platoon Sergeant. While serving in the 75th Ranger
Regiment, Chaplain Struecker competed in the David L. Grange Best Ranger
Competition for three consecutive years. His efforts culminated with a first
place finish in 1996. He also served as an Assistant Instructor of Military
Science at the University of Louisville and was recognized in 1998 as the US
Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Noncommissioned Officer of the year.
Throughout his career Chaplain Struecker has attended numerous professional
military schools and has received many awards and commendations. Some of his
awards include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Pathfinder Badge,
Master Parachutists Wings, Military Freefall Master Parachutist Wings, British
Parachutist Wings, Thai Parachutist Wings, German Parachutist Wings, and German
Sports Efficiency Badge. He has been awarded other commendations and
decorations for successful completion of professional military schools
throughout his military career.
His combat experience includes participation in Operation Just Cause in Panama,
Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait, Operation Gothic Serpent, UNOSOM II, in
Mogadishu, Somalia, and multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in
Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards for actions in these
imminent danger zones include the Southwest Asia Service Medal (1 Service
Star), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global
War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2d
award), National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal (with “V”
Device for valor, 3rd award). He has received other medals as recognition for
his service in the United States Army.
Chaplain Struecker holds a Master of Divinity Degree from the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, a Bachelor of Science Degree and
Associate of Science Degree from Troy University in Alabama.
Chaplain Struecker and his wife, Dawn,
have five children: Aaron, Jacob, Joseph, Abigail and Lydia.