By Jay Sowers
The Selma Times-Journal

Students at Concordia College  Alabama looking for a career in the United States Army or National Guard have a new leader to help them through the start of that journey.

Two weeks ago, Capt. Annette Williams was named the Assistant Professor of Military Science over the Concordia Department at Marion Military Institute, meaning that after moving with her family to Selma in the coming days, Williams will be the face of the military for students on the CCA campus.

Williams will lead three classes and one lab at CCA on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the school year, and she said Thursday she is excited for the opportunity to open the door to military service for the students there.

“Coming out of high school, and then those years in college, that’s the decision making point for a lot of people in life,” Williams said. “And we’re giving them the opportunity to start their adult life with a career — not just a job — with full benefits, an education and starting off that life as a manager.”

Williams said her new job in Selma will be similar to that of someone leading a military unit.

“My job is to take ordinary college students and turn them into warriors, leaders and strategic thinkers,” Williams said.

Williams, whose extensive military career started in 1988 and has taken her around the world, said she is excited that this career path has brought her to Selma.

“It’s an honor to serve and I am looking forward to working with the faculty and staff at Concordia,” Williams said. “It takes the entire team to build that whole person.”

“Together we will teach them how to problem solve, think strategically and to just be a better person.”

While acknowledging that not all of the students she teaches will become officers, Williams said every student would benefit from the experience.

“There will be some that will not commission, but my job is to also take them and build them up as a person,” Williams said. “Even if they don’t join the Army or National Guard, we can find parts of their life can we improve.”