While serving in the Marine Corps, he began graduate studies at Naval Academy in 1932, and then at California Institute of Technology where he earned a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Many of his classmates from the Naval Academy became general officers later: Hyman G. Rickover, Robert E. Blick Jr., Herbert S. Duckworth, James P. Riseley, James A. Stuart, Frank Peak Akers, Sherman Clark, Raymond P. Coffman, Ralph B. DeWitt, Delbert S. Cornwell, Frederick J. Eckhoff, Hugh H. Goodwin, John Higgins, Vernon Huber, Michael J. Malanaphy, William S. Parsons, Albert K. Morehouse, Harold F. Pullen, Harold R. Stevens, John P. Whitney, Lyman G. Miller and George J.

After completing the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, and serving a year at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., he entered flight training at Pensacola, Florida in August 1924.

Following his designation as aviator, Jerome served at the Naval Air Station, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, beginning in July 1925.

In January 1930, when the hand control or "stick" of his plane broke off at the socket while he was practicing acrobatics 2,000 feet over the city of San Diego, California.

Advanced to captain in May 1934, Jerome reported to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, before he was detailed to the American Legation in Bogota, Colombia as Naval Attaché and Naval Attaché for Air at the American Legation in Bogota, Columbio to the governments of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

On his return to the United States, Jerome entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, where he was promoted to major.

[4] In World War II, Jerome participated in the consolidation of the Northern Solomons, the Treasury-Bougainville operation, the Bismarck Archipelago campaign and the Luzon and Mindanao fighting in the Philippines.

After participating in five campaigns, Jerome returned to the United States in July 1945, to take command of the Marine Corps Air Station in Quantico.

[4] From April 1952 to December 1952, he took command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal and his fourth Legion of Merit for his leadership in that capacity.

He remained at Norfolk until July 1955, and assumed his final duties 1 August 1955 as commanding general, Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.