Major Roger S. Kerstetter

Bio

Maj Roger Kerstetter is from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Marine Corps November 2003. He completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island. Following recruit training; Maj Kerstetter attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC. He then attended Marine Occupational Specialty (MOS) School at Fort Leonardwood, MO. Upon completion, he was assigned the MOS 3531, Motor Vehicle Operator.

Maj Kerstetter reported to 3d Transportation Support Battalion, 3d Force Service Support Group, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan in June of 2004. In December 2004, he supported Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

In June 2006, Maj Kerstetter was transferred to 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC and in December 2006 was transferred to 8th Marine Regiment. In May 2008, he was promoted meritoriously to the rank of Sergeant. Maj Kerstetter was assigned as Platoon Sergeant and Regimental Motor Transport Operations Chief while at 8th Marine Regiment. In January 2009 he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM with Regimental Combat Team 8, serving as the Unit Movement Control Chief.

In May 2010, Maj Kerstetter was transferred to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. In September 2010 Maj Kerstetter attended Sergeant’s Course at the Staff Non-commissioned Officer Academy, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. He was a distinguished graduate and the class 6-10 First Sergeant. During his tour in Iwakuni, he completed Martial Arts Instructor Course and supported Operation TOMADACHI in response to the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Northern Japan.

In May 2012, Maj Kerstetter attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va. Upon completion, Maj Kerstetter was enrolled at the Pennsylvania State University to study Energy, Business, and Finance as part of the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program. Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Kerstetter commissioned as an officer August 2015.

In July 2016, Maj Kerstetter attended Assault Amphibian Officer School at Camp Pendleton, CA. Upon graduation, Maj Kerstetter reported to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2d MarDiv, Camp Lejeune, NC where he was the Platoon Commander for the Mine Counter Measure Platoon. He was then assigned as the AAV Platoon Commander for Battalion Landing Team 1/2 on the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit where he supported Operation ODYSSEY RESOLVE.

In September 2019, Maj Kerstetter completed Marine Security Guard Officer’s Course and reported to Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, Region 2 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), serving as the Executive Officer for an O-5 command. While in UAE, he completed the Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program as a distinguished graduate. In August 2021, he supported Operation ALLIES REFUGE processing Afghan refugees in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He then completed a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University. In October 2021 he was selected as a Middle Eastern Regional Affairs Officer. In 2021, Maj Kerstetter conducted a lateral move to become a MAGTF Intelligence Officer. He completed resident EWS in Quantico, Virginia in May 2023.

In August 2023, he served as the Battalion Intelligence Officer and Officer in Charge for three Littoral Reconnaissance Teams, Scouts, small unmanned aircraft systems, and Signals Intelligence Electronic Warfare at the 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division. While at the unit he completed the Advanced Maneuver Warfare Course at Twentynine Palms, CA certifying as an Intelligence Tactics Instructor and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from the Naval Postgraduate School. In both 2024 and 2025, he completed deployments to the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan.

In July of 2025, Maj Kerstetter reported to the North Carolina Piedmont Region Consortium, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and assumed the role of Executive Officer.

Major Kerstetter’ s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th award), and Combat Action Ribbon. Maj Kerstetter is married to Rebecca Alomar of Manhattan, NY. They have one child, Scott 16.