ALS graduates future leaders

  • Published
  • By Mark Herlihy
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials held an Airman Leadership School graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here Oct. 21.

The five-week professional military education course prepares junior enlisted members to become first-line supervisors.

Chief Master Sgt. Holly Burke, 66th Medical Squadron superintendent, served as the class mentor and guest speaker for the ceremony.

“If I could impart any wisdom to you for the future, it would be these three things: be yourself, be humble, and do the best you can,” she said.

Graduates spoke about the value of attending.

“The course taught me more about myself and how to lead with passion, rather than just leading by what is written in a book,” said Staff Sgt. Jesse Allen, 439th Maintenance Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massassachusetts.

During the ceremony, school officials announced the names of Airmen who received awards.

The school’s top award, the John L. Levitow Award, went to Senior Airman Jachin Henderson, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office Northeast here. The award recognizes the student who achieves the highest overall standing from a combination of academic scores, performance evaluation and leadership qualities. It's the highest honor awarded to an enlisted professional military education student.

The Academic Achievement Award was presented to Allen. This award goes to the student who achieves the highest summative scores throughout the class and displays characteristics of an effective leader and fosters teamwork within the training environment.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kemuel Morales-Gonzalez, U.S. Coast Guard Base Cape Cod, Mass., received the Commandant Award. The recipient is the student who displays all the characteristics of a leader and is chosen by the school’s commandant. 

“Being a smaller than normal class, I am really proud of how the students came together to not only beat the Top 3 in volleyball, but work as a team in the classroom,” said Master Sgt. Brandon McCarty, Hanscom’s Airman Leadership School commandant. “They have been a joy to instruct and the information they learned during ALS will make them more effective leaders when they return to their units.”

Students who also graduated from the course include:

Senior Airman Devin Anderson, 66th Air Base Group

Senior Airman Kenneth Coperthwait, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Nyla Green, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Connor Kittrell, 66th Medical Squadron

Senior Airman Isaac Robles, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Adrianna Williams, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Upon graduation, each Airman earned the U.S. Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education graduation ribbon.