This year’s Camo to Classroom awarded four scholarships totalling $12,000 to local veterans pursuing their dreams in their chosen fields of study. The Chief of Staff of the Nevada Army National Guard stressed the value of education and how it drives people to better themselves at this year’s annual Veterans Scholarship Gala – From Camos to Classroom – held at the National Automobile Museum on November 4.
Four students – two each from the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College – received $3,000 scholarships during the program, which raises money for scholarships to help military veterans.
Vietnam Veterans of America Sierra Nevada Chapter 989 in Reno presents Camos to Classrooms with many sponsors from Northern Nevada. The silent auction also raises money for the scholarship programme. VVA 989 President J.R. Stafford, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force and later the U.S. Coast Guard, said each applicant is destined to make a difference in their communities.
Col. John Krueger, who was promoted to colonel in 2020, praised the four veterans during his keynote address.
“There is no doubt that education leads to opportunity,” he said. “Education makes us better, and an educated society underpins the democracy we fight to protect every day. Our blessed American way of life is not guaranteed. We must continually work for it.
The two students from the University of Nevada are Caleb Smith, a Navy corpsman, and Anthony Miles, a Navy veteran. Smith was unable to attend the gala because he was deployed to Camp Pendleton, California. He’s a corpsman following in his father’s footsteps in medicine and fire science. Smith is a medical assistant at Renown. Miles, who grew up in Cleveland, served on the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. Miles is employed as a human development and family services teacher for special needs children and is taking courses in secondary education.
The two TMCC students are Adam Serfoss, a Marine Corps veteran in the Physician Assistant Studies Program, and Nevada Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Danny Lara, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Serfoss had intended to pursue a career in medicine, but he served two tours in the Marines, including one in Afghanistan. He earned a master’s degree in public health.
Lara said he recognises the role of education in medicine. The Reed (Sparks) High School graduate first studied criminal justice at TMCC. Krueger said people are educated every day in life, while others get some of their education in a classroom. For him, he learned more outside of the classroom from good and bad leaders and mistakes. Krueger said access to formal education is there for those who work for it.
“Some people may have an easier path than others, but if you’re motivated, a driven individual who puts in the effort to better yourself, sets goals and crushes them, and doesn’t let anything get in your way, we need to find those kids because I want them on my team,” Krueger stressed.
Krueger illustrated the importance of the Nevada National Guard, which totals about 4,500 soldiers, airmen and civilians who report to the governor in peacetime and war. During the pandemic of 2020, which ebbed into 2021, summer fires and civil unrest, he said the Guard responded as neighbours helping neighbours.
When people see the Nevada National Guard, he said, they know and trust the soldiers and airmen who understand the state’s culture. Krueger said he is proud of the Nevada National Guard.
“The Guard provides access to education,” he said. “The Nevada National Guard helped pay for my education and will help pay for my son’s education through the Post-911 GI Bill. It’s a good deal. It’s one of many options, but it’s the one our recruiters wanted me to mention.”
Krueger said 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the draft. Since then, the colonel said, the military has become the premier, professional, all-volunteer force and the strongest military in the world. He said the people give the military its edge over others.
According to Krueger, the Nevada National Guard has met its recruiting goals for 2023 and is doing well in the new fiscal year, but the 18-24 age group lacks the desire to serve in the military. From 1980-1998, he said, 35% of households had a family member who had served in one of the military branches. That number has dropped to less than 19% this year.
Whatever the reason, Krueger encouraged those present that they could help reverse the trend. We all know someone. Tell them what made your life better. Tell them where you messed up. Tell them to take the opportunities. Tell them to do it now,” Krueger encouraged.
“Don’t hesitate to tell your story. Sometimes it’s hard. Some of the toughest people in this room have never told their story, and again, I don’t expect them to. But look, there are some storytellers in here, and some of the best stories may not have all the facts. You can inspire this next generation.
Krueger said Generation Z would be fine, but he added that previous generations had always worried about the groups that followed.
“Remember, there was a generation that worried about us. This next group will be different, but they will be better. They have to be. ”
He said Chapter 989’s motto was “Never again will one generation of veterans fail another”.
“That has to resonate with all of us,” Krueger said.
