28 Airmen graduate from ALS Published July 22, 2010 Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Congratulations to the Airmen who graduated from Airman Leadership School here July 21. ALS is a six week-long course designed to develop Airmen's leadership and supervisory capabilities. After ALS, Airmen are better prepared for the increased responsibility as they ascend the rank as they become non-commissioned officers. Upon graduation, awards are given to the Airmen who were top in their class, including the John L. Levitow award, which is presented to the top professional military education graduate. Levitow is the only Air Force enlisted man to be awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. The top graduate was Staff Sgt. Curtis Wiersma, 5th Operations Group, who won the John L. Levitow award. Craig Helma, 17th Munitions Squadron and Colin McLaughlin, 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron, were Distinguished Graduates. Lorry Arellano, 5th Medical Support Squadron earned the Leadership award and Colin McLaughlin earned the Academic award. Other graduates were: 5th Munitions Squadron Benjamin Evenson Jonathan Lewis 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Steven Helms 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron Christopher Metcalf Christopher Meredith 91st Maintenance Operations Squadron Kevin Roberts 5th Medical Operations Squadron Hayley Gorski 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Thomas Toepper 5th Security Forces Squadron Joel Brooks Justin Meece Cheng Thao Jeffrey Grootaert Matthew Kline 5th Munitions Squadron Alex Johnson 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron Jordan Resch Aaron Briley Tremayne Maxwell Steven Fulks 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron Ryan Pfeifer Joshua Dillman John Darker Matthew Vann Curtis Fisher 17th Munitions Squadron Donald Derusha