Jerome is overall the best soldier for doing what soldiers are typically used for: UP generation. He's basically Katie with better stats, can use his skill earlier (and his skill is the same pre-CC as hers post-CC and doesn't change so if you get a 2nd copy while your first is CC'd, you don't have to CC THEN combine) and his AW ability gives you a free 2 UP at the start just by having him in the squad, even if you can't actually deploy him (War of Magic anyone?). Agree with Buttlover, if you aren't planning to AW him soon, then leaving him at level 50 pre-CC he can still hold his own against a LOT of early rushes in event and story maps while having his deployment cost "-3" (because CC adds 3 cost; this is why some people do not CC Phyllis so they can use her skill 3 seconds earlier and her bulk as a silver is decent enough to take certain story map early rushes)