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Colonel Alan Hester, senior Army instructor for Greenville High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), has been named this week’s Greenville Advocate Hero. The Mobile native has been serving in this role for nearly ten years, mentoring cadets from Greenville, Georgiana and McKenzie schools. 

“I knew that I wanted to give back to the community, to the JROTC program that had given me my start,” Hester said.

Hester graduated from Baker High School in 1984 and participated in JROTC for four years before earning an appointment to West Point. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1988 with a degree in National Security Studies. After a 27-year military career that included service as the U.S. Army Attaché to Poland and Pakistan, Hester retired in 2015 and began his work with Butler County’s JROTC program.

As Senior Army Instructor, Hester views his role as more of a mentor than a strict supervisor. 

“We try to emphasize cadet leadership and cadet responsibility,” Hester explained. “I let them succeed and let them learn on the job.” 

The Tiger Battalion, as the cadets are called, is a tight-knit group, with an eight-person staff that manages roles ranging from personnel to supply management. Under Hester’s guidance, dozens of former cadets have joined the military, and others have used their experience to fund college through military service.

The local JROTC program has also been a launching pad for careers in other fields. 

“We have former cadets that are part of the Greenville Fire Department, the Greenville Police Department and other areas where they continue to serve their community,” Hester added.

Tammy Barganier, the mother of a current cadet, praised Hester’s influence.

“He’s a great man,” Barganier said. “He’s done a lot for Greenville High School.” Her daughter Griffin, a senior, has benefited from Hester’s mentorship. “She’s gained leadership skills she never would have gotten without him. He’s changed their lives.”

Reflecting on his nearly decade-long tenure at Greenville High, Hester expressed pride in the cadets’ achievements. 

“They want to succeed and I want to help them succeed,” he said. 

His dedication to JROTC and the community has earned him the admiration of many, including Barganier, who added, “He really is a saint. He’s an asset to our community. We brag on him all the time.”