From enlisted Airman to Academy appointee, Outstanding Airman keeps moving forward

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta stands in formation during the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., May 18, 2026. Bereguta, one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025, completed the Prep School after earning his nomination through the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnathan Suni)

By MSgt Nicholas Filip
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – It had been a while since then-Airman 1st Class Roman Bereguta, a financial technician from Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, had spoken Ukrainian at speed. He was deployed with the U.S. Air Force’s Task Force Grey Wolf at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, standing in front of a live training demonstration, when the doubt arrived. What if a term slipped past him? What if the next sentence came too fast? What if, after years away from Ukraine and years spent building a life in English, he could not carry the room from one language to another?

He stepped in anyway. One sentence, then another. When it ended, Bereguta found his commander and asked how he had done.

“You crushed it,” the commander told him.

Others on the team told him the same thing. The moment did not make him a different Airman, but it gave him something he needed: proof that he could be useful in a mission larger than the job he had been assigned.

That deployment became a turning point. It changed the way Bereguta saw his service, his future and the kind of leader he might become.

Humble beginnings

Bereguta grew up in Vinnytsia, a city on the Southern Bug River about 275 kilometers southwest of Kyiv, Ukraine.

“A bit odd, but I remember the smell of clean air as we lived by the forest,” Bereguta said.

With the prospect of war hanging over their country and the promise of opportunity in the United States, his family made a decision.

“It was my parents’ decision to move to the United States,” he said.

They arrived in 2017. For Bereguta, then 13, the first day in America felt almost unreal.

“Coming from a small town, I flew into New York City, and it was a bomb of emotions,” Bereguta said. “Seeing things I only saw in movies, my 13-year-old self was beyond excited.”

His family settled in Jacksonville, Florida, where Bereguta finished middle school and graduated from Atlantic Coast High School in 2022. After graduation, he looked forward by reaching back to something familiar in his family’s past.

Roman Bereguta, left, poses with his sister on their first day in the United States in 2017. His family settled in Jacksonville, Florida, after leaving Ukraine in search of new opportunities. (Courtesy photo)

A legacy of service

“The idea of joining the military has been with me since childhood,” Bereguta said. “Every male in my family has served. And the reason I chose the Air Force was because every time I talked to a retiree, they said, ‘I wish I’d joined the Air Force.’”

Enlisting came with a hurdle.

“I wanted to be a linguist,” Bereguta said, “but without citizenship, I couldn’t get the top-secret clearance the job required. I was instead picked up as a financial technician.”

He chose not to treat that as a closed door.

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I decided to support the mission as best I could in the position I held. In the end, it worked out, and I got to experience what many linguists do not.”

Bereguta left for basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on June 27, 2022. He attended technical training at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, in August and then arrived at Peterson SFB as a financial technician.

Before long, the language skills that had not fit neatly into his first Air Force job became central to a new one.

“My command chief knew I spoke Ukrainian and Russian and knew someone on the Task Force Grey Wolf team,” he said. “My chief set up an interview, and I was invited to deploy to Germany. Being able to use my language skills to help the task force was amazing.”

Back in Europe for the first time since 2017, Bereguta’s excitement met the reality of a mission where words carried weight.

A deployment that changed everything

“My first day of interpreting, I was extremely nervous; I didn’t have as much experience as others on my team,” Bereguta said. “I was self-conscious about my accent and had low self-esteem.”

He learned to narrow the world down to the work in front of him.

“Every time I interpret, I isolate myself from everything, no matter how many people are in the room or how loud it is,” he said. “One hundred percent of my focus is on interpreting.”

After that first session, he asked for feedback. The answer stayed with him.

“I asked my commander how I did,” Bereguta said. “He answered, ‘You crushed it.’ The team encouraged me; they brought out the best in me.”

The encouragement did not remove the pressure. It gave him a way to meet it.

“That boost of confidence and the team’s support guided me to get better each day,” he said.

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta holds patches with personal significance to him at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo., Aug. 26, 2025. His path to the Prep School included enlisted service as a financial technician and a deployment with Task Force Grey Wolf, where he used his Ukrainian and Russian language skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)

Choosing the officer path

The same deployment that tested Bereguta’s confidence also changed his plans.

“The idea to become an officer was born when I was with the Grey Wolf team,” Bereguta said. “Before, I wanted to finish my contract and get out. But I worked with dozens of incredible officers and saw the impact they had on the mission. It made me think I could do more. I thought I could make the world a better place.”

He began looking for a path to commission.

“I looked at a few options, including the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program,” he said.

The LEAD program allows outstanding enlisted Airmen, with their commander’s endorsement, to compete for an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy or its preparatory school as a path to becoming officers.

For Bereguta, the Academy path also aligned with a growing ambition to fly.

“After working with pilots, I decided I wanted to fly,” Bereguta said. “A foreign pilot told me, ‘Not many people get to fly, and only a few get to go to the U.S. Air Force Academy. I would have given up everything to go there. Don’t pass on this opportunity.’”

Bereguta studied the options and chose the route that matched the future he wanted.

“After researching, I decided to pursue an appointment to the Academy via LEAD because it gave me the best shot at becoming a pilot,” he said.

His advice to other enlisted Airmen is direct.

“LEAD is a prestigious program every junior enlisted Airman who wants to commission should consider,” he said. “Start practicing for the Candidate Fitness Assessment early. Get letters from people who know you, not just signatures from high-ranking people who don’t. The biggest pitfall is a negative mindset. Look at your options, decide what you’ll do and follow through.”

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta, wearing the insignia of his prior enlisted rank of senior airman, poses for a photo near a static aircraft display at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo., Aug. 26, 2025. Bereguta earned his Prep School nomination through the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program after serving at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)

Driven to excel

While attached to Grey Wolf in early 2024, Bereguta saw an email from home station congratulating group-level Airmen of the Year winners. He forwarded it to his supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Mykel Niles, with a note: He wanted to be considered for the award the following year.

“We will discuss this when you get back,” Niles replied.

Bereguta continued to improve with the task force.

“In a few months, I went from being the worst interpreter to being a personal interpreter for the chief master sergeant of the Ukrainian Air Force and translating documents for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, all because the team believed in me and encouraged me to learn every day,” he said.

When he returned to the 21st Comptroller Squadron at Peterson SFB, Niles kept his promise.

“We sat down, and [Niles] laid out milestones I should hit to be nominated,” Bereguta said. “That kick-started ‘The Year of Dubs,’ us winning every award we could.”

Niles’ plan centered on opportunity and trust.

“Tech. Sgt. Niles entrusted me with positions and never doubted my ability to perform,” Bereguta said. “Even when I had hard times in my personal life, and others said, ‘Don’t get your hopes up, finance never wins,’ he kept reinforcing that I could.”

Niles did more than encourage him. He prepared him.

“With his guidance, I learned what I needed before taking charge,” Bereguta said. “Sometimes I didn’t know how to do something, but I wasn’t ashamed to admit shortfalls or ask questions.”

Others in the squadron noticed the way he carried himself.

“Senior Airman Bereguta and I worked in the same section,” said Jimena Hallanger, a budget analyst with the 21st CPTS. “He was always willing to help. I was new, and whenever I struggled with a program or task, he took time to explain the process and made sure my questions were answered.”

She remembered his competence, but also the smaller habits that made him approachable.

“He has a laid-back, easygoing, playful personality and is chatty,” Hallanger said. “That helps others open up and feel like they have someone they can trust and count on.”

One day at the office, the gesture was as simple as a slice of pizza.

“One moment that stuck with me was a hectic day at the office,” Hallanger said. “I had a last-minute online meeting when someone brought pizza. He noticed I didn’t get any and, without hesitation, brought me a slice. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes.”

By the end of that season, Bereguta had earned a nomination to the Preparatory School through LEAD and was selected as Air Force Materiel Command’s Airman nominee to the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025.

Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks, Commandant of Cadets, coins then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo., Sept. 3, 2025. Bereguta was selected as one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025 while completing his Prep School year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cadet Candidate Madison Harte)

A year at the Prep School

In July 2025, Bereguta arrived at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, beginning a year designed to prepare prior-enlisted Airmen, recruited athletes and other cadet candidates for the academic, military and physical demands of the Academy.

The transition asked him to trade familiar expertise for the humility of being a student again.

“The Preparatory School has been a complete 180 for me,” Bereguta said. “I went from being an expert in my craft, interpreting and financial management, to being back in training status. The biggest lesson I took away from the prep school was to be humble enough to learn from everyone, even if I know more about the topic.”

He said leaving a mission he loved was difficult, but the reason for the move remained clear.

“What kept me grounded was knowing that after the Prep School and the Academy, I’ll be able to help on a much greater scale,” Bereguta said.

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta, center, walks with classmates outside the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo., Aug. 26, 2025. As a prior-enlisted cadet candidate, Bereguta helped classmates adjust to military standards while working through his own transition back to academic life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)

Leading by example

Bereguta made an impact early at the Prep School, where his prior-enlisted experience helped classmates adjust to military expectations.

“From day one, Roman had a steadiness based on his prior-enlisted experience,” said Col. Mark Landez, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School commander. “Peers sought him out due to his confidence and experience, in uniform wear, drill, and the habits that keep a team together and high performing. He’s respectful, coachable and consistent. That combination shows up in small ways every day and is exactly what is necessary to succeed at the Academy.”

The year brought the expected challenges, especially in the classroom after four years away from school. Bereguta said academics were his main concern at the Prep School, but he finished the year strong earning dean’s list honors in three of four quarters.

“Academics and athletics were challenging, but that’s what I expected,” Bereguta said. “If it were easy, it wouldn’t make anyone better.”

His prior-enlisted experience helped his classmates in practical ways, too.

“I already knew many topics taught in basic military training, so I focused on helping my team, like how to wear the uniform, how to march, the small details,” Bereguta said.

His enlisted foundation also gave him skills he could pass on in the field.

“During my enlistment I was certified by Army special operations forces in Tactical Combat Casualty Care,” Bereguta said. “During training at the Prep School, I demonstrated proper TCCC procedures and explained some advanced steps. I hope my wingmen never have to use it, but if they do, I believe they’re ready to save a life.”

Bereguta graduated from the Prep School May 18, completing the next step toward joining the Academy’s Class of 2030 on In-processing Day June 24, 2026.

“It is just a waiting game for now,” he said.

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta, center, conducts a chemistry experiment with classmates at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colo., Aug. 26, 2025. After four years away from school, he finished the year earning dean’s list honors in three of four quarters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)

National recognition along the way

On Aug. 19, 2025, the Air Force announced the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025.

“When I found out I was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, I think my leadership recognized my passion and dedication to reach goals, no matter how unreachable they sounded,” Bereguta said.

Academy leaders recognized his accomplishment on separate occasions. Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks, commandant of cadets, visited the Prep School on Sept. 3 and coined Bereguta in front of faculty and peers. Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, and Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig, the Academy’s command chief, also visited Sept. 11 to highlight him as a leader to watch.

Those moments mattered to him.

“Privately, it means a lot,” Bereguta said. “I felt honored to be recognized by the superintendent, the commandant and the command chief. It meant they cared about me and what I’d accomplished.”

Then-Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta, one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025, speaks during a panel at the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Feb. 20, 2026. Bereguta, a prior-enlisted cadet candidate at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, shared perspective from his enlisted career and deployment experience with the U.S. Air Force’s Task Force Grey Wolf. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

National Character and Leadership Symposium Panelist

Recognition followed him into the Academy’s 2026 National Character and Leadership Symposium, where Bereguta participated in activities connected to the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. The two-day symposium, held Feb. 20-21, 2026, brought participants together around the theme “Courage to Lead in the Profession of Arms: Combat & Crisis-Tested Character.”

For Bereguta, NCLS was both a chance to listen and a chance to contribute.

“NCLS has been a highlight of my year as a preppie, as I was honored to be both an attendee and a speaker,” Bereguta said. “I gathered valuable information while also sharing honest opinion and experience from my enlisted career.”

One speaker, retired Senior Master Sgt. Israel “DT” Del Toro Jr., stayed with him. Del Toro, a former tactical air control party Airman, survived catastrophic combat injuries, returned to duty and later became the first 100% disabled Airman to re-enlist.

“What touched me the most and influenced my mindset was Senior Master Sgt. Del Toro,” Bereguta said. “His story has inspired me to be mission ready and to never give up, whatever the consequences are.”

Bereguta keeps the scale of the year in view.

“If someone had told me years ago that I would do the things I did as a junior enlisted member, I wouldn’t have believed them,” he said. “Winning the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year was the perfect end to my enlisted career, and it wasn’t just my work; it was a yearlong effort by my team, commander, senior enlisted leader, supervisor and mentors.”

Looking back on the path that carried him from Ukraine to enlisted service, deployment, the Prep School and the threshold of the Academy, Bereguta draws two lessons.

“Individual awards are a reflection of teamwork,” he said. “And everything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

Learn more about the LEAD program and the Prep School’s mission.