Latest ALS class graduates

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Twelve service members attending Airman Leadership School completed the first step in their professional development following a graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here Dec. 21.

The training provides soon-to-be supervisors the knowledge to provide feedback to subordinates, write enlisted performance reports, prepare letters of counseling and more.

Senior Airman Stephen Peplinski, a member of the 66th Air Base Group here, spoke about how the opportunity helped him grow as an Airman.

“This class really helped me to improve my communication skills,” he said. “If you want to be effective in the Air Force, the ability to communicate with subordinates, as well as senior leaders, is important.”

The class was comprised of five active duty Airmen, two members of the Air National Guard and three from the Air Force Reserves. The class also included two members of the U.S. Coast Guard.

“At the end of the day, we’re all doing the same job: serving the American people,” said Petty Officer Third Class Edward Lopez, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. “Everyone brought the same enthusiasm and passion to class every day.”

Staff Sgt. Justin Hodge, an instructor at ALS, discussed the benefits of varying experiences that students bring to each class.

“The diversity of experience in the classroom, with active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and members of the Coast Guard, really adds to the overall learning process for those attending,” he said.

School officials announce the names of four students who received awards during each graduation ceremony.

For this class, the school’s top award, the John L. Levitow Award, went to Senior Airman Selina Ortega, 439th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. 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.

The Academic Achievement Award went to Senior Airman Adam Roach, 103rd Security Forces Squadron, Bradley Air National Guard Base, Connecticut. This award goes to the student who achieves the highest summative scores throughout the class and who displays all characteristics of an effective leader. The recipient also must have fostered teamwork within the training environment.

Roach also captured the Commandant Award, which goes to the student who displays all the characteristics of an effective leader. Once all other factors are considered, the ALS commandant renders the final judgment on who receives this award.

Receiving the Dress and Appearance Award was Senior Airman Alfredo Rosario Roman, a 439th Security Forces Squadron member at Westover Air Reserve Base.

Other students who completed the course include:

Senior Airman Vincent Bartkowiak, 66th Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Givenchy Caudio, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire

Petty Officer Third Class David Dacruz, Small Boats Stations Eatons Neck, New York

Senior Airman William Foster, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 7

Senior Airman Andrea Fullmore, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.

Senior Airman Marc George, 212th Engineering Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.

Senior Airman Braden Gibson, 436th Maintenance Squadron, Westover Air Force Reserve Base

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