ALERT Alumni Update | November 2023

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Subject: ALERT Alumni Update | November 2023

November 28, 2023

Dear Alumni,

ALERT's 2023 training year is complete! The days are long, and the weeks are short here at the Academy, and my team and I are looking forward to the winter furlough for sure. After putting 76 men through Basic Training, 49 through 2nd Phase, and 54 through 3rd Phase, it's been a challenging, yet rewarding year.

Our goal by 2027 is to put 120 men a year through Basic Training, with a 90% retention rate through Graduation. This last Unit once again showed us that our alumni are our best recruiters for the program. Out of the 45 guys who started training, at least 30 of them were referred by one of you. I have always said that alumni referrals also make the best recruits as well. Alumni sell the program through their own real-life stories, and they don't mince words. They tell it like it is, so the guys that come having met an ALERT man know precisely what they are getting into. All that to say, thank you to everyone who has sent new men our way this year.

We can't wait to see you guys at the 30th Year Reunion on February 8-11, 2024! One thing we are working on is a memorial wall for deceased alumni, which we will dedicate in a special ceremony on Friday night of the Reunion (February 9). Here is the list of guys that we know have passed away; if we are missing any, please let Lt. Winkler know (swinkler@alertacademy.com).

Peter Ackerman – Unit 17 (7/21/2002)

Ronnie Conroy – Unit 3 (12/21/2010)

Benjamin Bradley – Unit 36 (2/6/2011)

Caleb Nelson – Unit 30 (10/1/2011)

Joshua Eddy – Unit 47 (5/5/2012)

Joel Swetnam – Unit 40 (9/3/2013)

Vladimir Robles – Unit 12 (9/30/2014)

Peter Melton – Unit 28 (10/25/2014)

Shane Hennessey – Unit 18 (9/9/2015)

Andrew Krobatsch – Unit 23 (1/14/2016)

Tyler Marino – Unit 47 (9/2/2016)

Andrew Papillon – Unit 16 (10/12/2016)

Stephen Summerfield – Unit 50 (10/31/2020)

Evan Bjorn – Unit 10 (2/1/2021)

Jacob Wilson – Unit 53 (9/6/2021)

Justin Hepworth – Unit 50 (4/28/2022)

Joshua Thomas – Unit 10 (9/1/2022)

Errol Millsap – Unit 58 (7/2023)

Jonathan Yoder – Unit 7 (10/12/2023)

Also, we are looking for an alumnus with a close relationship with each individual to help with the dedication ceremony, so if you know any of these guys and will be able to attend the Reunion, please let Lt. Winkler know so that he can coordinate the ceremony as we remember our brothers who have passed away before us.

Thank you for all your support this year, whether through prayers, financial contributions, or those of you who have been coming out to help facilitate and teach classes. We could not have done all we were able to do this year without you guys.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and Katy and I wish you a blessed Christmas season!

Colonel Jesse Boulden | Unit 40

ALERT Commanding Officer

Needs/Projects

Here are a couple of needs and projects that we are working on. If you would like to help cover the costs of any of these, you can donate online or mail a check. Make sure to add a note indicating what it is for on the donation form or check so that it gets applied properly.

Scholarship Funds - our goal is to award $100,000 in scholarships next year; all the money in the scholarship fund goes directly towards student training costs
Replacement of Rope Rescue/Fire/Dive Training Gear - continual upgrades to our gear to stay current with industry standards and replace worn gear
New Deployment Trailers/Vehicles - updates to our current fleet of vans and trailers due to wear and tear from deployments
Classroom/Aspen Refurbishment - continued upgrades to our student living and study spaces

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Subject: ALERT Alumni Update | November 2023