Hanscom ALS holds virtual PME course for Class 20G
By Mark Herlihy
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Airman Leadership School officials here held a virtual graduation ceremony for 12 junior enlisted members Sept. 24.
The five-week professional military education course prepared 10 Airmen and two Coast Guardsmen to become first-line supervisors.
“ALS has been an invaluable experience that has helped me learn about myself, and other professionals who come from different bases, career fields, service components and branches,” said Senior Airman Scott Wylie, 140th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, “I have grown a lot these past five weeks and I'm looking forward to bringing what I learned back to my unit."
During the virtual class, students attended lessons via Zoom and completed all course work online.
“Attending ALS was a great experience. I feel more confident about becoming a highly effective supervisor in the future,” said Senior Airman Ezekiel Grogan, a member of the 66th Medical Squadron here.
Hanscom’s Command Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb was the guest speaker for the ceremony.
“You have been given the knowledge, the skills and tools to lead our greatest assets: our personnel,” said Hebb. “As the first-line supervisor, you will have the greatest impact on your subordinates’ lives.”
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 Senior Airman Gabriel Stines, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 12. 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 Wylie. 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 Kaleb Kirkland, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 7, 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 who completed the course:
Petty Officer 3rd Class Noah Boyd, United States Coast Guard, Sector Boston
Senior Airman Nicholas Combs, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station Massachusetts.
Senior Airman Dominik Daigneault, 66th Force Support Squadron
Senior Airman Carlos Fidalgo, 439th Civil Engineer Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base Mass.
Staff Sgt. Kolburn George, 66th Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Damaris Kigo, 302nd Force Support Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Senior Airman Jacob Podmaska, 143rd Security Forces Squadron, Quonset Point, Rhode Island
Petty Officer 3rd Class Noah Raymond, United States Coast Guard Station Boston
Each graduate earned the U.S. Air Force NCO PME graduation ribbon.