Retired Navy Capt. Brian Drechsler will celebrate his first Veterans Day as a Veteran after coming out of 26 years of service as a Navy SEAL.
After 26 years in the U.S. Navy, retired Capt. Brian Drechsler will celebrate his first Veterans Day as a veteran.
And, with the benefit of hindsight, he offers one major takeaway: If the American public could see what Navy SEALs do, they would all sleep better knowing that those kinds of warriors are out there every day, protecting the country.
Freedom isn’t free, noted Drechsler, who retired in June as a SEAL officer.
It’s a phrase we’ve all heard before, but he brings profound gravity to the words, drawing from a distinguished career that included serving on SEAL Team ONE, commanding SEAL Team FIVE, and acting as commodore of the Naval Special Warfare Center for nearly two years.
Throughout his decades in uniform, Drechsler’s admiration has always been for his fellow sailors.
“I’m honored to have served,” Drechsler said, “The opportunity to work with such fantastic individuals, that really are true patriots, and really, I don’t mean this to sound cliche, but national treasures that absolutely love their country … They’re very, very high performing people.”
Drechsler extends his praise beyond just the SEALs, highlighting the contributions of special warfare crewmen, intel specialists and Navy Seabees. “Everyone believed in the mission. They believed in each other,” he noted.
Drechsler said he watched his teammates put themselves last time and time again. Country, the mission, the team – all came before self.
It pushed him to be the best he could. He would never be the best, Dreschler said, but he needed to try. People needed to see him giving his all, especially as a leader.
That drive, within a given mission and the military overall, was constantly inspired by his teammates and by people around him in their daily lives as well.
“That’s not just on the tactical side,” Drechsler said. “I’m talking about seeing somebody and how they parent, how they were as a spouse … That’s pretty selfless. I need to improve in that area,” he reflected.
Those are the kinds of people he wants to celebrate on Veterans Day this year.
“I certainly don’t look at the American flag the same as I did before I joined the Navy,” Drechsler said. “When you lose friends, it means a little bit more.”
“Throughout the nation’s history, people have answered the call,” he said somberly. “They’ve protected us … so people can have their rights and freedoms that they deserve.”
He emphasized the sacrifices made by individuals who leave their families behind, missing out on holidays or life events.
“There’s just something so righteous about that, just selfless, that I think demands respect. And it will always have mine,” Drechsler said.
As Drechsler transitioned to civilian life, he took a job as the Director of Operations at the Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego. And he loves it.
It’s not just about telling their stories and their history, he said, but giving back to the community, supporting families and inspiring others.
There is a call to action wall at one end of the museum and Drechsler said it doesn’t have to be to join the military, but to just be a part of a cause bigger than yourself.
“That’s what makes the country great is it’s all volunteer. When you have all volunteers, there’s passion behind that,” he added.
This Veterans Day, he said he’s humbled to be able to continue to serve the SEAL community, even though he’s no longer in uniform.
“I’d do it all over again,” Drechsler said.
