HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Airman Leadership School officials held a graduation ceremony here for junior enlisted members Feb. 11.
During the five-week professional military education, 12 Air Force and Coast Guard students attended lessons via Zoom and completed all course work online. The purpose of ALS is to prepare students to become first-line supervisors.
“I learned to never be afraid of being wrong, practice humility, gain as much life experience as we can, be a listener and set the example,” said Senior Airman Anthony Arroyo, 66th Security Forces Squadron, who received the John L. Levitow Award, the school’s top award.
The Levitow 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.
Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb, Hanscom’s command chief, emphasized that ALS is designed to accomplish a lot in a relatively short timeframe.
“The students that come through Airman Leadership School learn an incredible amount in five weeks, but every part of the curriculum is designed to teach the next generation of enlisted leaders the Air Force needs,” said Hebb.
During the virtual ceremony, school officials announced the names of other award recipients.
The Academic Achievement Award went to Senior Airman Dane Engro, 184th Intelligence Support Squadron, Kansas National Guard, McConnell AFB, Kansas. 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.
Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Lauri, Sector Long Island Sound, New Haven, Connecticut, 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:
Senior Airman Jakob Deshler-Fisher, 66th Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Trinidy Farris, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office-Northeast, Detachment 2
Senior Airman Victor Jackson, 414th Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina
Senior Airman Ashley Johnson, 123rd Force Support Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
Senior Airman Ashey Jutzi, 123rd Security Forces Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
Senior Airman Michael Nimesheim, 31st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Georgia
Senior Airman Sandy Nguyen, 31st Intelligence Squadron, Fort, Gordon, Georgia
Staff Sergeant Jennifer Tate, 123rd Security Forces Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
Senior Airman Richard Willinghurst, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Kentucky
Each graduate earned the U.S. Air Force noncommissioned officer professional military education graduation ribbon.