ALS graduates next generation of leaders

  • Published
  • By Todd Maki
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – 66th Air Base Group officials held an Airman Leadership School graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here Dec. 16.

The professional military education course prepares junior enlisted members to become first-line leaders.

“ALS teaches the key fundamentals of intrapersonal skills that will ultimately provide us the tools to be effective leaders,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Donovan, one of the graduates.

During the five-week leadership course, students gain a broader understanding of the military profession and their role within it as leaders.

“The tools taught in ALS will inevitably strengthen who I am as an individual on- and off-duty,” said Donovan.

Master Sgt. Jeremi Isaacs, 66th Comptroller Squadron Financial Operations Flight chief, was the class mentor and guest speaker for the graduation ceremony.

“This class strived to improve themselves, not for their own personal growth, but for the benefits of their subordinates, peers and leaders,” he said. “The dedication they displayed will only make their organizations and the U.S. Air Force ready to meet the chief of staff’s action order to Accelerate Change or Lose -- the future is bright.”

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

The school’s top award, the John L. Levitow Award, went to Donovan. This award goes to 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 went to Senior Airman Vincent Jiang, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, and Networks. This award goes to the student who achieves the highest summative scores throughout the class and who displays characteristics of an effective leader. The recipient also must have fostered teamwork within the training environment.

Senior Airman Mychelle Sarles, 66th Force Support Squadron, received the Commandant Award. This award goes to the student who displays all the characteristics of a leader. Once all other factors are considered, the ALS commandant renders the final judgment on who receives this award.

Other students of Class 22A who completed the course:

Senior Airman Logan Clark, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Nicolas Howerton, 188th Intelligence Squadron, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas

Senior Airman Sarah Hughey, Digital Directorate

Senior Airman Jason Perez, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office Northeast

Senior Airman Johanna Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 188th Force Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB

Senior Airman Gage Siwicki, 66th Force Support Squadron

Senior Airman Kia Taylor, 66th Medical Squadron

Senior Airman Lebria White, 66th Medical Squadron

Each graduate earned the U.S. Air Force noncommissioned officer professional military education graduation ribbon.