ALS: From Airman to NCO

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Airman leadership school is not only an Air Force mandated course to transform Airmen to supervisors, but a place for Airmen to develop interpersonal counseling skills and learn more about developing themselves as well as their Airmen.

"This is the transitional period from Airman to supervisor," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Roberts, ALS instructor assigned to the 5th Force Support Squadron. "They're going from the person carrying out the duties of their job, to being the person in charge of the Airmen in their career field. Actually, it is more than just being that person that charges the task to someone, but developing their Airmen and having a lasting impact on their career."

For 24 academic days, dedication, determination and teamwork are just a few of the things Airmen need to be successful in ALS at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, according to Roberts. 

"It is possible to pass this course on your own, but the biggest thing is learning teamwork," said Roberts. "You can be successful, but it is easier if you rely on your classmates. You can ask them to look over your assignment or listen while you practice your speech. Also, getting a study group together to get ready for the final exam is a big thing."

"I learned a lot about myself," said Senior Airman Garrett Medlock, a traffic management journeyman assigned to the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who added that through peer feedback he understood better how he interacts with people and how he is perceived by people.

Leadership, networking and management skills are gained throughout the course, said Roberts. While attending ALS, Airmen receive nine management hours towards the degree they are pursuing, whether it is through the Community College of the Air Force or another university.

All skills are obtained in a different way, depending on the Airman. For Medlock teamwork was the biggest challenge he faced throughout ALS.

"Coming from a background at the [U.S. Air Force] Academy, where it is basically self-sufficient, I came in with the same expectation," Medlock said. "I told myself we are all great Airmen and that I'm not going to need their help and they're not going to need mine. After the first week, I realized that mindset wasn't going to cut it. Others are going to need my help, just as much as I'm going to need theirs. You all win or you all lose. It is all of our responsibility to help each other because no one person is going to get to the end by themselves."

While learning teamwork and leadership, Airmen are taught how to write enlisted performance reports, decoration citations, memorandums, letter of counseling and how to fill out an airman comprehensive assessment. 

"We teach Airmen how to properly deliver feedback and how to evaluate their Airmen appropriately," said Roberts. "Giving fair and honest feedback on what their Airmen need to improve and how they can improve. We teach them other interpersonal skills for when someone has a death in the family or how to respond to a sexual assault. We cover all the things that come with life, from small problems to major problems."

To reward Airmen for their hard work and dedication to the course, some are presented awards upon graduation.

"The John Levitow award is given to the top student in the class, the distinguished graduate award is given to the top 10 percent and the academic award is simply given to the Airman with the best academic score," said Roberts. "We also have the commandant award. This is based off how much of an impact that individual Airman had on the flight. We take input from leadership, instructors and the students."

After graduation, Roberts hopes all Airmen that come through ALS go out and do the things they are supposed to and the things they talk about doing in class. He said he wants Airmen to want to go out and make a change and want to make an impact on their Airmen's lives.

"I learned things I didn't expect to learn," said Medlock. "I think it will change how I act when I go back to my unit, because the same Airmen that I have been working side-by-side with for the last two or three years are now the ones that that I'll have to step up and supervise and I cannot act the same way I did before coming to ALS. That is the biggest thing I learned. I have to have that change of attitude because I am no longer an Airman, I am going back and I will be an NCO."