First Sergeant Strautins is a native of Lawton, Oklahoma, and graduated from Robert Service High School in 2004 in Anchorage, Alaska. After graduating, he enlisted on June 1, 2004, and attended Recruit Training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA where he graduated on 27 August 2004. He was ordered to the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, CA where he obtained the Infantry Mortarman MOS on 10 November 2004 and subsequently received orders to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment in Twentynine Palms, CA. He was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class on 2 October 2004.
First Sergeant Strautins was assigned to Weapons Platoon, Kilo Company and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq from January to August 2005, Husaybah, Iraq from September 2006 to April 2007, and Haditha, Iraq from April to November 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his deployments, he served in the billets of the Platoon Commanders Radio Operator, Forward Observer, 60MM Mortar Squad Leader, and Mobile Assault Platoon Section Leader. 1stSgt Strautins was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 July 2005, Corporal on 1 October 2006, and Sergeant on 1 December 2007. In March 2009. 1stSgt Strautins was assigned to Weapons Platoon, India Company and deployed from October 2009 to April 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During the deployment, he served in the billets of 60MM Mortar Section Leader and Weapons Platoon Sergeant.
First Sergeant Strautins reported to the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA in September 2010 for Combat Instructor School where he graduated 10 December 2010 and assigned as a Combat Instructor with the Infantry Training Battalion. Upon his successful completion of his tour as a Combat Instructor, he was ordered to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. First Sergeant Strautins reported to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in December 2013 where he was assigned to Weapons Company as a 81MM Mortar Platoon Section Leader. He deployed with t he battalion to Darwin, Australia in support of the Marine Rotational Forces-Darwin mission. First Sergeant Strautins was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned to Charlie Company as the Weapons Platoon Sergeant. He deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from November 2015 to May 2016. In September 2016, First Sergeant Strautins reported to Marine Corp Security Force Regiment in Norfolk, VA and assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company C as a Platoon Sergeant. During his tenure with the company, he completed deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Yokuska, Japan. He was promoted on September 1, 2018 to Gunnery Sergeant.
First Sergeant Strautins reported to 5th Marine Regiment on 1 September 2019 where he was assigned as the Regimental Assistant Operations Chief and deployed in July 2020 as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Task Force Koa Moana 2020. Upon his return, he requested and received orders to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment where he deployed as the H&S Company Gunnery Sergeant with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. He was frocked to his current rank on 23 January 2023 and reported to 3d Amphibious Assault Battalion where as the Company First Sergeant, First Sergeant then got orders to DPC/RSU-West where he is currently serving as the senior enlisted leader.
First Sergeant Strautins completed all resident professional military education including Sergeants Course where he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate, Career Course, Advance Course, the Infantry Mortar Leader's Course where he graduated as the class "Gung Ho," the Infantry Unit Leaders Course, E8 Seminar, 1stSgts Course, the Legal Officers Course, and the Air Force Senior Enlisted Academy. His distance education includes Senior Enlisted Joint PME I & II.
His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (w/ combat distinguishing device and gold stars in lieu of 4th award), Combat Action Ribbon and the Volunteer Service Medal.