Airman Leadership School lends a hand

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Airman Leadership School is considered a milestone for most enlisted Air Force members.

The five week long course aims to prepare students for a life-long learning experience in the Air Force and to provide them with the tools to be future leaders.

The students learn about the various roles they will assume as military supervisors, such as being communicators, managers, team members, military citizens and followers. All areas help with executing the most important role of being leaders and effective first line supervisors.

Another area Hanscom instructors like to involve classes in is a community project.

"As a school house, we think it's vitally important to get the class involved in the community," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Guidry, Airman Leadership School instructor. "It allows the students an opportunity to apply some of the principles they've learned and foster that outside relationship with the community."

The community project for Class 12C was to clean up the area surrounding the base Child Development Center, which included the entrance to the building as well as the children's play areas.

"We like to involve the classes in anything that will give back to the community," said Guidry. "Cleaning up the CDC promotes a positive image for the base. Our students take pride in the image we portray and the CDC is a direct reflection of Hanscom, as well as the Air Force."

Past community projects have included helping with Heroes Homecoming, Oktoberfest, Senior NCO Induction and visiting the Carlton Village nursing home.

Instructors at the school house focus on educating their students in leadership. It's taught that leadership is about organizing or influencing a group of people to accomplish a specific goal or mission.

"In ALS, the foundation to every lesson is mission accomplishment," said Guidry. "We challenge the students to come up with the class project themselves and schedule all the details. We act as a buffer between the two, but essentially it holds the students accountable and teaches them responsibility -- two very important aspects of leadership."

For students, cleaning up the CDC meant more than just raking leaves or cleaning up trash.

"It felt great to help clean up at the CDC," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Hannon, an Airman Leadership School student. "While cleaning up I had the chance to interact with some of the kids and it felt good to know I had a direct impact with their activities."

Hannon is in the United States Coast Guard stationed at Sector Southeast, New England. Members from different branches of service are invited to attend ALS because officials note that leadership is necessary throughout the military. The Hanscom ALS is unique because it's a joint and Total Force school house. They also offer seats to the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve.

Each ALS student had a similar experience and felt that being involved in the community was not only an important element in their training, but also in learning leadership values for the future.

"My favorite part of the class project was when the kids were watching us clean up," said Senior Airman Jonathon Sanchez, another ALS student. "They were excited about us being there. Knowing that we made their play areas a safer, cleaner environment is an awesome feeling!"

Getting the students involved in the community, showing them how easy it can be to lend a hand and proving that volunteering can be fun is something Guidry, as well as the other ALS instructors, like to demonstrate to all their students.

"My favorite thing about helping with the CDC cleanup was to interact with the kids," said Hannon. "At one point an entire class came outside to give me high fives. That made a personnel connection, not only with me and the kids, but between the kids and every member of the ALS class."

At the end of the day it's a win for everyone involved, according to the ALS instructors. Students are able to use the leadership skills they're being taught during ALS and the community benefits from an enthusiastic class willing to step up to any challenge.