December 15, 2022
Dear Alumni, Another year of forging is already behind us. In total, we put 73 men through Basic Training and added 24 to the Eagle Response Unit as graduates in 2022. It's been a year full of ups and downs, but God has been faithful. I recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend with a few of my old unit mates and their families. As we spent time swapping stories, playing with the kids, and cooking meals together, I was struck by the deep friendships that can often come through the shared ALERT experience. With men all throughout the western world struggling to make friends and find deep connections, I find myself with a long list of men of all ages and from all walks of life that I get to call my friends. And for that, I am incredibly grateful. I am grateful for the men like Colonel Ron Furman, who saw the need in young men's lives for rich friendships and mentorship and started the ALERT program. I am grateful for the men like Major Keon Pendergast, Unit 1, who poured into men like us so faithfully for so many years while we were students here. I am grateful for all the men who have gone before me, gone with me, and come behind me. I am grateful for the interactions I have had with some of you this past year, from hiking the Endurance Hike with some of you, to connecting at the Reunion with others, to the random guys who stopped by for a visit. It would be a long list if I were to sit down and write out all of the names of the amazing men I've gotten to interact with, learn from, and serve alongside during my time here. My heart in the coming years would be that even more young men would be able to participate in the experience of ALERT, and through that, find camaraderie, community, and life-long friends. As we stride into 2023, please pray for us. Pray that we will be humble in receiving feedback and making course corrections as we seek to improve the ALERT program. Pray that we will continue to be good stewards of the program that has been given to us, and that we will be able to ensure that it is a safe and healthy organization for our staff and students. Pray that we will be unified as a team. And pray, most importantly, that the Gospel of Christ would shine forth through this work and that His name would be glorified.
Forge on! | 
