The Sergeants Club

Subject: The Sergeants Club | May 2025

Hello,

Yesterday we had the privilege of graduating 31 men out of 3rd Phase during Unit 71’s Graduation ceremony. The graduates were from Units 66, 68, 70, and 71, and graduated after completing at least one quarter of Basic Training Cadre, Construction, EMT, Leadership & Communications, Missions, or Tech Rescue. It is always encouraging to hear from the men and their parents at the end of their time in training how God has been at work in their lives during the previous weeks and months here at the Academy. And with that graduation ceremony we have officially closed out the spring semester here at ALERT, and are now on to summer furlough. Please pray for us to use furlough well to rest and prepare to start it all over again in four short weeks.

As I looked back on the quarter, and tried to figure out a final charge to give to the Battalion at Awards & Promotions last Wednesday, I kept coming back to the phrase “remember Jesus”. Paul told Timothy to “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel . . .” (2 Tim 2:8 ESV). That was my challenge to the men, and it is my hope and prayer for them as they head home: that in everything they would remember Jesus. Remember His humility in setting aside His glory to come to earth and pay the price for our pride. Remember His suffering, and His taking on our sins and receiving our punishment so that we might be made righteous. Remember His love and tenderness towards us, and how His love and care for us will never change, never fade, and never end.

Most all of us would say that we know who Jesus is, but do we remember Him in the day in and day out busyness of our lives? Also there are two men in the current Battalion who are likely not Christians, so please pray that they would come to know Him.

One final thing to note—you may have seen in Colonel’s last alumni email that we are restarting Fire Academy this fall. That is a huge answer to prayer, as we have been trying to resume offering it for several years. We are partnering with Kilgore College to cover the instructor requirements, which will add additional administrative paperwork and bump up our class minimums, but Lord willing we will be able to resume offering it regularly from here on out. We already have three sign-ups for the fall, which is exciting. As always, we need men to sign up to be able to train and disciple them, so that is a continual prayer need.

As I look back on the last semester, I am grateful for God's sovereign care for us through all the ups and downs of life, and grateful for your prayers and support through it all.

Posteritatis commodis servientes,

Captain Samuel Winkler | Unit 42

ALERT Battalion Commanding Officer

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Subject: The Sergeants Club | May 2025