Leadership Profiles

This page contains a brief description of the responsibilities various leadership positions have and short profiles of each leader. The list continues on page 2.

International ALERT Academy Director – Col. John Tanner

John and his wife, Janet, have been married for 39 years with three sons and seven grandchildren. John and Janet trusted Christ for salvation shortly after their wedding in 1972. John worked for AT&T 17 years in Mesquite, Texas while also working with youth groups in several churches, serving as a youth director for seven years. He earned his B.A. degree with his major in Bible at the Criswell College in Dallas, Texas.

In 1993 the Tanner family went to Moscow, Russia for nine months, teaching Biblical principles and character in the public schools of Moscow. Upon returning from Moscow in 1994, John began serving in the newly developed ministry of ALERT. John was given the responsibility to develop the emergency response phase of training and he taught Search and Rescue (SAR) to all units of ALERT, applying it with nearly 100 SAR missions. During the first nine years of the program he carried the responsibility of more than 40 disaster relief deployments including the space shuttle Columbia recovery.

In August of 2002 John became the Director of the International ALERT Academy which now has the ALERT program, ALERT Cadet, STEP, Quest, and 31:10 (mother/daughter program), as well as the Camps and Conferences division. The Tanners live at the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, Texas.

ALERT Cadet Chief of Staff – Captain James Marsh

James began his ALERT experience in 1996 when he was a part of ALERT Unit 11. He continued on in ALERT and became a Paramedic. During this time James was a part of the first ALERT travel team and as such he traveled across the United States to help start up ALERT Cadet units in the beginning days of the Cadet program. After becoming a part of the ALERT Eagle Response Unit, James decided to expand his ministry opportunities and go through pastoral training and worked his way though Bible School as a paramedic. After Bible School James began working with young people and their parents helping them to seek out their Life Purpose and receive education that lines up with that purpose. He met his wife Christy who has a similar heart for young people and families, they have together worked in full time Christian ministry for 8 years now. James returned to ALERT and now lives at the International ALERT Academy in Big Sandy, TX. James assists Col. Tanner in things Cadet related and manages the daily goings on in the ALERT Cadet Headquarters office. James and Christy love people and enjoy spending their spare time in hospitality and fellowshipping with others. If you are ever in the area, give them a call as they would enjoy having you over for a cup of coffee at the very least!

Southeast US Leader – Major Gary Reckner

Gary and his wife Kathy have eleven children. Bryce, their oldest son has completed ALERT Cadet and ALERT Paramedic training, Tyler has completed ALERT Cadet and ALERT Phase 2 ERT, Timothy has completed ALERT Cadet and completed ALERT Basic Training, while their other sons Emery and Wesley and Clayton continue in the Cadet program. Gary and his sons have been active in the Cadet program since 1998 when Gary accepted the position of 2nd Lieutenant for 2nd Florida. He accepted the duties and responsibilities of Captain for the SE Region in 2006, and then Major for the SE Region in January of 2010.

The Reckners have home schooled their children from the beginning of their formal education using the ATI program. They have been involved with the Character First! Education program, teaching biblically-based character to public and private school children. Gary has been active in The Navigators, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and the Institute in Basic Life Principles. He is employed with the US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service and relocated with them from Florida to Sebree in Western Kentucky in 2005. The Reckners enjoy Civil War re-enacting, being out-of-doors and living a rural life with many animals, to train the children and teach life lessons.

South Central US Leader -Major Michael Smith

Michael and his wife Stacey will celebrate their 31st year of marriage this summer. They have homeschooled their six children: Rachel (26), Melanie (24), Brandon (21), Bethany (19), Danielle (16), and Nathan (11), and are expecting their first grandchild in August. Turning his life over to Jesus Christ at the age of 16, Michael discovered peace and purpose and a growing desire to know the Word of God. While studying at Texas A&M, Michael and Stacey met through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and married following graduation. They established a home in the DFW area, began a family, and became active in their church leading home bible study groups and teaching adult Sunday School. Michael currently serves as an elder for a family integrated church in Southlake, Texas, and has been employed as an engineer with Bell Helicopter Textron for over 31 years. Becoming active With ALERT Cadets in 1997, Michael took a commission as 1st Lieutenant. In 2010 he took on additional responsibilities within the state of Texas when he accepted the position of ALERT Cadet Captain.

Austral Asia Leader – Major Sreedhar Subramaniam

Sreedhar and his wife, Lee-Yen, have been married for over 19 years. They have four children, Sharmaine, Sherman, Shawn and Shane. Both Sreedhar and Lee-Yen accepted Christ in Malaysia in their respective high school Christian fellowships.

Sreedhar runs an internet site that promotes good values in Malaysia at www.goodtimes.my. He is also a Character First consultant and serves on the board of a number of companies in Malaysia. Sreedhar and his two older sons have been involved in the ALERT Cadet program since 2004. The Sreedhar family resides both in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and Dunedin, New Zealand.