Future NCOs complete five weeks of PME training

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Airman Leadership School students finished the first step in their professional military education following a graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons May 19.

By completing the five-week course, the 10 graduates, comprised of eight senior airmen and two U.S. Coast Guard petty officers, are now equipped with the knowledge to supervise junior members in their respective branches, according to ALS staff.

Senior Master Sgt. Kristin Eberline, superintendent of the 66th Medical Squadron, who attended ALS at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, in 1997, was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

“I think back to when I went through Airman Leadership School and I wasn’t nearly as advanced as you all are in your careers,” Eberline said. “I’ve learned a lot since then and I’ve grown as a person and most definitely as a leader.”

Eberline spoke about supervisor styles that resonated with her.

“I was blessed with leaders who got out from behind their desks and worked with me, empowered me to lead even when I wasn’t yet a supervisor,” she said. “They capitalized on my strengths and helped to show me my worth.”

She challenged the graduates to learn from all types of leaders.

“We learn from both sides of the spectrum,” Eberline said. “Use these lessons to become a leader that your people respect.”

Following her speech, instructors recognized top performing students from the class.

Senior Airman Matthew K. Pick, a member of the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom, won the John L. Levitow Award. The 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 PME student.

Pick also received the Dress and Appearance Award during the event, a recently added award to graduating classes.

The Academic Achievement Award recipient was Senior Airman Veronica I. Ojeda, from the 439th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. This award goes to the student who achieves the highest summative scores throughout the class and who displays all characteristics of an effective leader. They also must have fostered teamwork within the training environment.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert M. Walker, assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard at Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., is the Commandant Award recipient. This award goes to the student who displays all the characteristics of an effective leader. The ALS commandant is the final determining factor on who receives this award.

Other students that completed the course include:

Senior Airman Casey A. Bellerose, 157th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire

Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew D. Blouse, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut

Senior Airman John D. Egbert, III, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 7, Hanscom

Senior Airman Kimberly A. Fritz, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.

Senior Airman Garett C. Murley, 181st Security Forces Squadron, Hulman Field Air National Guard Base, Indiana

Senior Airman Jordan Phillips, 66th Medical Squadron, Hanscom

Senior Airman Andre J. Sample, 439th Security Forces Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.

Each graduate earned the U.S. Air Force NCO PME graduation ribbon.