Future leaders break ground at Airman Leadership School Published June 1, 2010 By Senior Airman Tong Duong 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Sixteen senior airmen are the first students to attend the new enlisted Professional Military Education program here. Two years ago the Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Building 900 here closed its doors, along with three others stateside. Transforming Goodfellow's NCOA building from a class for NCOs, the first Airman Leadership School now fills the room with Class 10-G1 which started June 2. According to Tech. Sgt. Shaila Lane, 17th Force Support Squadron, the goal of the school is to provide senior Airmen an opportunity to fully develop leadership skills necessary for becoming an effective NCO. To ensure students concentrate fully on their academics while attending ALS, they are released from their unit, and temporarily assigned to the school for five weeks. During this time, they will not perform any duties connected with their Air Force Specialty Code or duty position. ALS is the first level of enlisted PME that culminates 192 curriculum hours and is taught in 24 academic days. An affiliation of the Community College of the Air Force, completion of ALS awards students with 10 semester hours towards an associate degree. The primary instructional method is guided discussions allowing students an opportunity to engage in classroom dialogue. They also learn from three broad academic areas: profession of arms, communication skills and leadership. "As instructors we use many techniques to help students learn the challenging course," said Tech. Sgt. April Miller, 17th FSS ALS instructor. "Guided discussions provide students the opportunity to discuss, explore and share experiences on given curriculum topics. Additionally, small group exercises allow students to learn from each other through communication skills, speaking projects and in small, student-led study groups." Students are senior airmen or staff sergeant selects with 48 months time in service with at least one year retainability upon graduation. Completion of ALS is required before assuming the rank of staff sergeant. ALS instructor of two years and acting commandant here, Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Chavez, is looking forward to the challenges of standing up the first course here since 1998. "We have a great facility because it was an NCO Academy building," she said. "The biggest challenges will be figuring out the mess. With this class, it's the first for everything. The students will be our guinea pigs, to see what works or not. I am also grateful for the support of my ALS commandant at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas."
