Back to school: Nevada officer lands Guard Association academic scholarship

Photo By Lt. Col. Mikol Kirschenbaum | Nevada State Training Officer Maj. Jerome Guerrero  

CARSON CITY , NV, UNITED STATES

10.16.2016

Story by Lt. Col. Mikol Kirschenbaum 

Nevada Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs

CARSON CITY -- Eighteen years ago, Maj. Jerome Guerrero, the state training officer for the Nevada Army National Guard, was Cadet Guerrero in the University of Nevada, Reno’s, ROTC program. Now he’s going back to school thanks to the National Guard Association of the United States and the University of Phoenix.
Guerrero is one of three NGAUS members awarded a University of Phoenix full-ride academic scholarship for post-graduate studies this year. The other recipients of this year’s award are 1st Lt. Lindsey Hardenstine of the Delaware Guard and Capt. Chad Morgan of the Tennessee Guard.
Guerrero was selected after submitting a series of essays discussing challenges that the National Guard faces and how he plans to put the degree to use.
“This is a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge base and increase my value to the Nevada National Guard; you have to keep improving yourself,” said Guerrero, who will now aim for a master’s degree in business administration.
Guerrero graduated in 1999 from UNR with a bachelor’s degree in business and after his initial entry rotary wing course he was selected as an Apache helicopter pilot. After flight school he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. He deployed twice with the 101st immediately after September 11th, first to Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003.
Guerrero spent seven years on active duty, primarily in aviation positions and as the aide-de-camp for the deputy commanding general at Fort Rucker, Ala., before transitioning into the Nevada Army National Guard.
While serving with the Nevada Guard, Guerrero has held multiple positions during the past 10 years. He recorded stints as the executive officer for the 3-140th Security and Support aviation unit and was the State Partnership Program coordinator before becoming the executive officer for Adjutant Generals Maj. Gen. Cindy Kirkland and Brig. Gen. Bill Burks. He then served as the operations officer and executive officer for the 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion.
Guerrero is a Reed High School graduate and lives in Sparks, Nev., with his wife and two children.
The NGAUS Scholarship at University of Phoenix has been offered for the last four years to eligible NGAUS members. The scholarships are awarded to Army and Air National Guardsmen who are NGAUS members in the ranks of lieutenant colonel and below.
To date, University of Phoenix has awarded 14 full-tuition master’s scholarships to NGAUS members. To be eligible for an NGAUS Scholarship at University of Phoenix, applicants must be actively affiliated with NGAUS.
For information on NGAUS scholarships, visit: http://www.ngaus.org/united-voice-national-guard/scholarships.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2016
• Date Posted: 10.20.2016 16:48
• Story ID: 212388
• Location: CARSON CITY , NV, US