Colonel Kratzer was commissioned in May 2003 upon graduation from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. After completing training at The Basic School in December 2003 and the Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course in June 2004, his initial operational assignment was with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan as the Target Intelligence Officer.
While in Okinawa, Colonel Kratzer deployed from July 2005 to July 2006 as an advisor on a Military Transition Team assigned to the Iraqi Army in Taji, Iraq. He subsequently reported to 2d Intelligence Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From 2006 to 2008 he deployed with the battalion twice to Fallujah, Iraq as a team OIC, platoon commander, and Multi-National Forces - West Fusion Officer.
In 2008 Colonel Kratzer was selected for the Junior Officer Strategic Intelligence Program (JOSIP), with duty at National Intelligence University U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.
In November 2011, he reported to Camp Lejeune as the Intelligence Officer for 3d Battalion, 8th Marines, deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2012. From 2013-2014 he was the Director of Intelligence Training at the Marine Raider Training Center, Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
In 2014, Colonel Kratzer reported to the Naval Postgraduate School followed by the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California for study as a Middle East Foreign Area Officer (FAO) and Persian-Farsi linguist. In July 2016, he was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman for a FAO In-Region Tour.
In July 2017, Colonel Kratzer reported to 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit in Camp Lejeune as the Intelligence Officer. He deployed as Intelligence Officer, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa and subsequently deployed as 22d MEU S-2. In 2019 Col Kratzer reported again to MARSOC, serving until 2020 as the G-2 Operations Officer.
Col Kratzer then executed orders to Quantico, Virginia where he served as head of the Intelligence Directorate at Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. In July 2022 he reported to Region 2 (Middle East and South Asia), Marine Corps Embassy Security Group headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for duty as the Commanding Officer. He relinquished command in June 2024 and subsequently reported to the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, Virginia for Top Level School.
In June 2025, he received orders to Capabilities Development Directorate, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, where he served as the Intelligence Division Head.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4th Award), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.