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Capt. Alan Madrid, the commanding officer for the 10th Support Group Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) grew up in coastal Puerto Barrios, Guatemala helping his family operate a corner stand taqueria.
Although throughout his childhood, Madrid was surrounded by beautiful scenery and what he refers to as a "good family environment", his family yearned for the fabled "American Dream".
At an early age, it was apparent that although the Madrid family lived in what many refer to as a paradise on Earth, opportunity was rare due to a lack of technology infrastructure, career prospects and safety because of the rise of MS-13 and Barrio-18 gangs. His father hatched a plan to change all of that for his sons.
"My dad is my role model. He always provided for the family. Once, he tried to move us to the states. We moved to Arizona as a family. He was working all kinds of jobs to provide for us. He was the boss back home at our business.
It was a struggle for my father in the U.S. starting from zero," Madrid recalled. "After a while, we moved back to Guatemala and he and my mother continued to work hard to give me and my brother the money and opportunity to go to college in the states."
After highschool, Madrid packed his things and said tearful goodbyes to everything and everyone he loved, and set out on an adventure to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where he studied business marketing.
Madrid wasn't only focused on his studies; he was carefully laying the stepping stones of his life's path. During his sophomore year of college, Madrid was approached by an Army recruiter, and his new adventure with the U.S. would soon prove to be a long-term one. Madrid spent the rest of his college days enlisted in the Army Reserve as a 91L, construction equipment repairer and going through the Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC). While managing his studies and a new career as a professional Soldier, he went home on vacation and married the love of his life, Rochelle, with whom he now has an active three-year-old named Andrew. He has been whisking her around the world ever since.
"I joined the Army because I was grateful for the experience and opportunities I was receiving," said Madrid. "I wanted to pay back America in some way or form. I thought my service to America would be a way to do that.
It was a way to say thank you on behalf of my brother and I." "I moved to the states with nothing and they afforded me the opportunity to go to school to make a living. The United States is the country of opportunities," he added.
After college, Madrid was commissioned as a logistician and has been adding his brand of motivation, flexibility and devotion to every mission he encounters. In the past 6 years since joining, Madrid has participated in high-profile missions in Europe and the Pacific.
"Some of the highlights of my career happened when I went to Germany between 2016-2021. I Had opportunities to participate in a multi-national command post exercise with NATO in Stavanger, Norway and be the logistician for my brigade where we played war games with our NATO partners and other allied forces," Madrid said.
Madrid also cut his teeth in leadership positions as the maintenance platoon leader and also later, the S4 logistics officer in charge for his battalion.
His sole purpose was to support the units within his area of operations to make it from point A to point B. Madrid was at the forefront of planning exercises across Europe in countries like Poland, Romania, Latvia, Bulgaria and Albania.
According to Madrid, the experience gained from this assignment was noteworthy due to the logistical challenge. He was operating in countries that seemed to test his critical thinking and problem solving due to a lack of an established set way of doing things. Before long, Madrid's talents were noticed and he was transferred to the 12th Aviation Brigade to serve as the brigade's lead sustainment planner for the Defender 21 exercise. His main job was to make sure troops had fuel, water and ammunition on the ground in multiple countries ranging from Germany to Bulgaria simultaneously. Looking at the recent events in Europe with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Madrid whole-heartedly believes that his old unit is able to mobilize to help deter and stop any aggression to our NATO partners in Europe.
As Madrid's time in Europe was coming to an end, he found a way to continue to serve overseas and continue to see the world by applying for and receiving orders to Okinawa, Japan with the 10th Support Group.
"I spent time with our partners in Europe and I wanted to spend time in the Pacific Theater. I didn't want the regular Army experience and I wanted to see the world. I got a one-to-one match to come here," Madrid said.
Madrid's short-term plans are to lead a team called a mayor cell. His role will be vital to the success of the upcoming Yama Sekura 83 bilateral training exercise. A mayor's cell is responsible for ensuring that all personnel participating in the exercise have sleeping accommodations, food, fuel and transportation. Yama Sekura is the largest annual bilateral U.S./Japan command post-training exercise.
Madrid's future plans are to apply to be an Army Foreign Area Officer for Central or South America and after 20 years, he plans to retire back to Puerto Barrios.
"I want to go back home when I am done with my career in the Army knowing that I have contributed to make the world a safer place and of course I want to go enjoy drinks by the beach and live a calm, relaxed life till the end of my days," Madrid said with a smile.
