AFMC command chief challenges ALS graduates Published May 19, 2015 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Airmen and two members of the U.S. Coast Guard completed the five-week Airman Leadership School during a graduation ceremony at the Minuteman Commons May 21. Air Force Materiel Command's top enlisted Airmen and ALS Class 15D guest speaker, challenged the graduates to go out in the field and make their respective branch of service better with the knowledge gained during the past six weeks. "ALS is more than just another Air Force course, it is the foundation for our professional military education and it prepares our graduates to do an absolutely critical task for our Air Force: supervise," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner. "It is one of the two most important milestones for an enlisted member." Warner went on to say that those foundational milestones are completing ALS and earning the authority to officially supervise and become an NCO. He went on to discuss the impact the front-line supervisor has on new Airmen in the Air Force. "During my 28 years in our Air Force, I have had the great opportunity to work with outstanding generals, colonels, chiefs and civilian leaders and I have learned from every one of them, but, the most important lessons I learned, lessons that carried me to this point in my career, were the lessons I learned from leaders during my first three years in our Air Force; graduates it is you who will fundamentally shape the Airmen of the future." ALS, the first step in professional military education for enlisted members, is an Air Force PME class designed to develop junior enlisted members into effective front-line supervisors. The curriculum focuses on developing leadership abilities, as well as effective communication. Much of the instruction focuses around various Air Force rules and regulations. During the ceremony, three students were recognized as top performers throughout the past five weeks. Senior Airman Christopher A. Hahn, 66th Security Forces Squadron, 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 a PME student. The Academic Achievement Award recipient was Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica M. White, Sector Field Office Moriches, U.S. Coast Guard Station, E. Moriches, N.Y. 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 and fostered teamwork within the training environment. Senior Airman Vanessa C. Emerson, 439th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., was named the Commandant Award winner. This award is presented to a student who displays all the characteristics of an effective leader, but is not based on academic performance. The ALS commandant is the final determining factor who is presented this award. Other students completing the course are as follow: Senior Airman Erik J. Correa, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center-Hanscom AFB Senior Airman Pamela A. Hubyk, 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. Senior Airman Ryan J. Johnson, 143rd Maintenance Squadron, Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, R.I. Senior Airman Jack W. Marinelli, 143rd Maintenance Squadron, Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, R.I. Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin T. Myers, First Cutter Penobscot Bay, N.J. Senior Airman Joilissa T. Rhone, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office-Northeast, Hanscom AFB Senior Airman Justin A. Rickets, 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom AFB Senior Airman Jeremy A. Russell, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass. Senior Airman Daniel R. Tracey, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass. Each graduate is awarded the U.S. Air Force NCO PME graduation ribbon.