Yul Heredia, MAJ

MAJ J. Yul Heredia is a native of Northern California and the oldest of two children. There he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Geophysics from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2006. Immediately thereafter, he enlisted in the college option package directly to Basic Combat Training, then Officer Candidate School, in Fort Benning, GA, where he earned his commission as a 2LT in the U.S. Army Infantry. His first assignment was to Fort Bliss, TX, with the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Battalion “Steel Tigers,” 1st Armor Division, where he served in various positions including; Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader, Battalion Assistant S3, Tank Company Executive Officer, and HHC Executive Officer of a Combined Arms Battalion. Following his tour at Fort Bliss, Major Heredia became a Paratrooper and was assigned to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as an Assistant Planner in the Brigade Plan’s shop, and then as the Battalion Operations Officer in the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, followed by two company commands in Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st PIR, and then Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 504th PIR. Major Heredia was then assigned to the National Training Center, where he drilled large-scale combat operations, specifically training Combined Arms Battalions and Infantry Striker Battalions. After refining his craft, MAJ Heredia took his experience to the 1st Battalion of the 12th United States Cavalry Regiment, within the 1st Cavalry Division, where he served as the battalion S3 and XO. Major Heredia now currently serves in the University of Illinois, Chicago ROTC program as an Assistant Professor of Military Science.

MAJ Heredia is a two-time combat veteran serving one tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 09-10) and the other in Operation New Dawn (OND ‘11), both with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. He also served as a rotational security force on the Korean Peninsula for a nine-month rotation with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

MAJ Heredia is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leader’s Course, Combatives’ Course Level I, 82nd Airborne Division Advanced Airborne School Jumpmaster Course, US Army Ranger School, the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, Joint Fires Course, Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. He holds a Master of Administrative Science from Central Michigan University. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), Iraqi Campaign Medal (2CS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation Award, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge. MAJ Heredia is authorized to wear the Uruguayan Parachutist Badge, Bronze German Parachutist Badge, and the Gold German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

MAJ Heredia has a wonderful family of four.