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Brian Holtz

Brian Holtz | USMC Infantry w/ Brother | MEU Deployments | Coast Guard (20-Year Career) | “Purpose” After 9/11

Brian Holtz grew up in Pasco County, Florida, graduated Ridgewood High School (1995), and served in two branches: first the U.S. Marine Corps (Infantry, 4 years) alongside his brother, then the U.S. Coast Guard (a career that—combined with his Marine time—adds up to ~20 years of military service).

Why he joined

  • College money ran out, and he saw the Montgomery GI Bill marketing push.

  • He initially went to an Army recruiter, but his brother walked into the Marine Corps office (the one with camo netting and a KBAR in the wall) and was ready to sign—so Brian signed too.

  • They shipped together via a buddy program, went to boot camp together, and even stayed together through Infantry School after a First Sergeant kept both brothers in the same company.

Marine Corps service (4 years)

Training / pipeline

  • Boot camp: Parris Island, South Carolina

  • MOS: Infantry

  • Duty station: Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

  • He describes the tempo as constant field ops, workups, and training—even in “peacetime.”

Deployments / major experiences

  • MEU (“med float”): about 6 months, with port calls including:

    • Spain (Rota and Valencia)

    • Italy

    • Greece

  • He recalls the Kosovo period: they thought they might be first in (live ammo, live grenades came out), but their unit ultimately did not go in—another unit did.

  • Japan: 6 months, where he was selected for a quasi-security role because they needed people to fill gaps (he describes it as not official MP, but having authority). He jokes he was stuck “at the gate” while the unit did the more exciting training like climbing Mount Fuji.

How he felt about the Marines

  • He recommends the Marines, but says the daily stress and “minute stuff” is intentional—meant to condition you because combat amplifies everything.

  • He says if he could do it over, he would—though he notes the wear and tear on the body is real.

9/11 and the urge to serve again

  • He got out on August 10 (stated as about a month before 9/11).

  • He expected to be recalled (still on IRR), kept fitness/contact info ready, but the recall never came.

  • After waiting and feeling like he was “on the sidelines,” he decided to serve again—just in a way that worked with family life.

Coast Guard career (added to USMC time = ~20 years)

Enlistment reality check

  • Coast Guard recruiter was “straight up”: Brian left the Marines as an E-5, but would re-enter the Coast Guard at best as an E-3.

  • He originally wanted something more operational (he mentions “swimmer”), but chose Yeoman (YN)—admin/HR/benefits—because it was a practical long-term skill and had a shorter wait than other ratings (like HS).

Big takeaway about the Coast Guard

  • The Coast Guard impressed him with how everyone does everything—admin folks can be on guns, boarding teams, collateral duties, etc.

  • He describes it as a smaller service with strong team cohesion and shared workload.

Operational roles he highlights

  • Boarding team member: vessel safety boardings (PFDs, whistles, safety gear), and submarine escorts out of New London with a buffer zone to keep recreational boats clear.

  • Weapons/qualifications: mentions qualifying on the .50 cal.

  • LSO: Landing Signal Officer on a cutter—guiding helicopters onto the flight deck. He calls it “scary,” especially on a 210 because the rotor wash/props feel right on top of you.

Cutter

  • USCGC Resolute (WMEC-620) — he notes it’s a 210 and ties it to St. Petersburg (homeport context).

Stations (as stated)

  • Boot camp: Cape May

  • New London, Connecticut (non-rate / early assignment)

  • Petaluma (A-school for admin/YN)

  • New Orleans, Louisiana (first post–A school; ~4 years)

  • Miami

  • Back to his home area in Florida, where he later broke his back, was med-boarded, and chose to retire there.

His core message

Brian repeats a theme that’s very “Veterans Voices” on-brand:

The military gives you purpose.
From admin to top-tier operators, “everybody has a purpose,” and that purpose creates satisfaction and meaning.

Advice to an 18-year-old:

  • If you’re on the fence: do it.

  • It’s not easy (and that’s the point).

  • The cost is time away, deployments, long nights—but looking back after 20 years, he says: “I don’t regret any of it.”