HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Enlisted service members completed Airman Leadership School following a graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here July 14.
The five-week course prepares members of the Air Force and Coast Guard with initial leadership training through formal professional military education.
Master Sgt. Brylie Button, the class mentor and graduation guest speaker, encouraged graduates to “embrace opportunities for self-development.”
“I’m so excited to see where you go and where your future leads you,” said Britton, a member of the 66th Medical Squadron. “Don’t lose your fire when you get back to your unit.”
The school’s commandant lauded the latest corps of students to pass through the 66th Force Support Squadron-run class.
"It is rare that such a group of multi-capable students come together in a class,” said Master Sgt. Brandon McCarty. “This class served as a reminder of why I love this job as Hanscom Airman Leadership School commandant."
For Air Force students, the course is a prerequisite for staff sergeant.
At this latest graduation, ALS staff presented PME awards and certificates to the 10 students.
For class 22-Echo, the school’s top award, the John L. Levitow Award, went to Senior Airman LaDarron Tutton, a program administer for the Air Force Research Laboratory at its Rome Research Site in New York. 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 Benjamin Perez, 66th Security Forces Squadron Pass and Registration Defender here. 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.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Skylar Boutin, a storekeeper for U.S. Coast Guard Boston, captured the Commandant Award. This award 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.
Other students who completed the course include:
Senior Airman Jalisa Gunter, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office - Northeast
Senior Airman John Knight, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorate
Senior Airman Hector Olivera, 66th Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Valeria Palmerin, 66th Medical Squadron
Senior Airman Alex Rincon, 66th Force Support Squadron
Senior Airman Matthew Stapleton, Air Force Research Laboratory at Rome Research Site
Senior Airman Jonas Williams-McGhee, 436th Maintenance Squadron at Westover Reserve Base, Mass.
Each graduate earned the U.S. Air Force NCO PME graduation ribbon.