Future NCOs prepare for leadership

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Fourteen soon-to-be front-line supervisors recently completed the first step in their professional military education after completing Airman Leadership School here Feb. 12 following a graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons.

According to the ALS staff, by completing the five-week course, the graduates, comprised of 12 senior airmen and two U.S. Coast Guard petty officers, are now equipped with the knowledge to supervise junior members.

The guest speaker at the graduation was Hanscom Command Chief Master Sgt. Patricia L. Hickey, a 1996 graduate of ALS at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

"When I look back on my 22 years of service and what opportunities or actions enabled me to be the person, the leader and the chief that I am today, I really believe it all began with the same reason you are all sitting here tonight," Chief Hickey said. "I can say without hesitation it was my time at Airman Leadership School."

She explained how that experience laid the foundation for her to evolve as a leader in the Air Force.

"Airman Leadership School was an awesome experience, and for a young airman, the skills I learned developed me and allowed me to grow as an NCO," she said. "Over time, I used those principles to grow as a senior NCO and develop my own philosophy on what a leader should and shouldn't do."

Hickey closed with a challenge to each graduate.

"Graduates, regardless of your career field, background, skill sets and personalities, you must take what you learned and use it to overtake any obstacles, regardless of the task," Hickey said. "I want to assure you, as supervisors, you are going to face many challenges and your actions will define you as a leader. I promise you will stumble and you will fall, but you must rise. Only then can you truly learn."

Following Hickey's speech, instructors recognized three students as top performers.

Senior Airman Jacob L. Beecham, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was awarded the John L. Levitow Award. This award is presented 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 recipient was Senior Airman Kyle S. Burns, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. This award is presented to the top student who achieves the highest summative scores throughout the class and who displays all characteristics of an effective leader. They also must have fostered teamwork within the training environment.

Senior Airman Ryan M. Bator, 439th Maintenance Squadron, Westover ARB, Mass., was named the Commandant Award winner. This award is not based on academic performance, but presented to a student who displays all the characteristics of an effective leader. The ALS commandant is the final determining factor on who receives this award.

Other students that completed the course:

Petty Officer Third Class Andrew J. Champagne, Air Station Cape Cod, United States Coast Guard, Mass.

Senior Airman Kyle K. Dolezal, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

Senior Airman Brice O. Freeman, 203rd Red Horse Squadron, Virginia Beach Air National Guard Base, Virginia

Senior Airman Sarah A. McDermott, 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

Senior Airman Anthony M. Mustard, 121st Security Forces Squadron, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio

Senior Airman Lauren E. Parsons, 66th Comptroller Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

Senior Airman Justin D. Perez, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease ANGB, N.H.

Senior Airman Keith M. Prochaska, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Pease ANGB, N.H.

Petty Officer Third Class Scarlett R. Rogers, Base Boston, United States Coast Guard, Mass.

Staff Sergeant Natasha Steffen, 66th Comptroller Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

Senior Airman Jordan D. Vert, 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.

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