Nathan Rosas enlisted in the Army right after high school since he wasn’t sure what he wanted to study in college. The Army offered clarity, structure, and the GI Bill that would eventually make higher education possible.

Rosas spent six years as an Apache helicopter mechanic, deploying once to Afghanistan, and then served an additional three years in the Army National Guard in Illinois.

Eventually, he joined his parents in Las Vegas and enrolled in UNLV’s mechanical engineering program, a field where his years of maintaining aircraft systems became an advantage.

“I always loved to tinker,” he says. “I loved taking apart broken things and putting them back together. I knew I wanted to challenge myself. Engineering relies on creativity to solve problems. I love understanding problems and then solving them.”

Rosas quickly found a like-minded community at UNLV’s Military & Veteran Services Center and joined the Rebel Vets student organization.

“The social media position [in Rebel Vets] was open at the time,” he recalls. “I was struggling to get information, and I didn’t want others to have the same struggle I did.”

Now as vice president, he organizes monthly meetings, connects members with local and national resources, and builds partnerships with veteran organizations in Las Vegas.

“It’s dangerous for veterans to be alone,” Rosas says. “Often when you realize you need a support group, it’s very close to too late to find one. Getting involved, having a support group of peers, and having resources available is crucial to success — not just on campus but in life.”