The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
10.23.2020 | Football
Retired Army Staff Sergeant to be honored as Texas Football hosts Baylor.
Jeremiah Gunderson was 26 years old when he joined the Army as a medic. He had a wife, three children and a job at a lumber yard in western Michigan.
The first time he ever flew on an airplane it took him to basic training in South Carolina. Just a few months later, another airplane took Gunderson to the "Sunni Triangle" in Northern Iraq, where he caught up with his Fourth Infantry unit and was part of the original invasion force.
"Being able to take part in such an important piece of history was one of the most incredible experiences of my life," he said. "I learned more about myself and the world around me than I ever thought possible."
Gunderson is now a retired staff sergeant who serves The University of Texas as the director of Student Veteran Services. In this role, he leads a team dedicated to helping veterans navigate the higher education experience. They offer support for applying federal and state benefits, as well as career, academic, health and overall wellness resources.
When Gunderson was going through his own medical retirement, he realized there was an opportunity to help support veterans as they transition from a lifestyle of readiness as a soldier, sailor or airman to the different pace of civilian life.
Initially after graduate school, he worked as a contractor for the Department of Veteran Affairs to help transitioning veterans and was intrigued by the opportunity to do more and leave lasting impact. The role at UT Austin provided Gunderson the chance to have a guiding role in the lives of many.
"There is an often overlooked demographic of veterans in this country — first generation college students with no visible or obvious injuries who don't always advertise their veteran status," Gunderson said. "These men and women were typically enlisted in the military, didn't come from affluent families and often joined the military, at least in part, to seek out better opportunities for themselves and their loved ones. … This role at UT presents us an opportunity to really help this group of 'invisible veterans' who are sitting in classrooms on the Forty Acres and across the country."
Gunderson earned two degrees as a student after he left the Army using the GI Bill.
"I was also a first-generation college student who had no idea what to do with the education my service provided me. When I tell my students, 'I know what you're going through,' I can say it honestly," Gunderson said.
He credits his military experience for significant life lessons that have turned life principles, such as: humility, reliance on others and the importance of working as a team.
"There were many days (in the military) where a hot meal, clean socks and surviving another day on earth were all that was needed to find happiness. The mutual experiences we all went through created a bond that's hard to explain to those who have never served," Gunderson said. "No matter which branch of service our student veterans came from, their rank, race, religion, geographic origins, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation or political party, the thread of our mutual experiences unites us long after we leave service."
