CPT Sara Cratsenburg

CPT Sara Cratsenburg is a psychology instructor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York. 

She commissioned into the United States Army as a field artillery officer following graduation from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2017. Upon her completion of Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course (FABOLC), she served in the Republic of Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. She then went on to serve in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 82nd Airborne Division. 

CPT Cratsenburg served in various roles including Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Support Platoon Leader, battery executive officer, Battalion S4, squadron fire support officer, and troop commander. She has one deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 

CPT Cratsenburg earned a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There she completed a thesis in conjunction with the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and has over 1000 hours of clinical experience as a psychotherapy intern with UNC THRIVE; a non-profit organization supporting veterans and first responders with PTSD and TBI. 

Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters); and the Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters). Her badges include the Combat Action Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. 

She hails from Orinda, California and enjoys exercise, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She has two precocious rescue kittens, Bao and Princess, who have instilled a love of animals and reinforced values of patience and tenacity.