Award Winning Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Jimmy Doolittle Center at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota was crowded with Airmen of all ranks on the evening of May 5, 2016.

Colleagues, former supervisors, friends and family members all joined in celebration of an Airman Leadership School graduation ceremony.

As attendees were finishing their meal, the hosts announced the opening remarks to begin the ceremony.

After each Airman was given their diploma, the individual awards presentation began.

A young Airman was listening to each name be called for the distinguished graduate awards, the commandant’s award and the top academic award. As his wife was writing down the names of the award winners and all distinguished graduate awards had been handed out, the young Airman became disappointed in himself, as he thought he had done just as well as the award winners.

Just as the applause ended, his former supervisor said, “You must have gotten the Levitow Award!”

At that moment, time stood still. He looked around the table to see his commander a few seats down, prior supervisors and co-workers scattered throughout the table, and his first sergeant sitting right across from him.

The emcee’s voice caught his attention as he announced the winner of the award.

“The John L. Levitow Award is the highest award accorded to a student. This award symbolizes excellence in both a leader and a scholar. Airman 1st Class Levitow was award the Medal of Honor for Heroism in Vietnam.”

The young Airman heard the emcee announce his name.

“The John L. Levitow award for class 16 Delta has been awarded to Senior Airman Alexander Franco.”

Success is nothing new to Franco, an Oklahoma native, who joined the Air Force March 25, 2014. Through the beginning of his career, Franco worked his job as a communications security accountant with the 5th Communications Squadron and spent his time volunteering for over 20 different events.

Franco was awarded the Volunteer Award and Airman of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2015.

Through his hard work, Franco was awarded Senior Airman Below the Zone and tacked on Senior Airman six months before his original sew-on date.

“I put in interest in attending ALS as soon as possible because of the staff sergeant testing schedule,” he said. “My commander and first sergeant were willing to help me get into one of the slots available for the test. They had to fill out a waiver and send it to the Barnes Center For Enlisted Education.”

After approval for early admission to ALS, Franco attended and was awarded the highest award in any professional military education course. The Levitow Award winner is selected through peer evaluation and test scores, with consideration from the faculty and staff of the PME center.

“I never thought I was going to get the award,” he said. “I had only been in the Air Force for two years, and there was a lot of people in my class with more experience. I thought for sure they would present the award to them. I was at most expecting a distinguished graduate, if that.”

Through all of his accomplishments, Franco admits the reasoning behind his success.

“I couldn’t be where I am today, or have received the awards I have, without the support of my wife,” He said.

Franco met his wife at a local college near his hometown. After discussing their career opportunities, he decided to join the military to have a career he knew he would enjoy.

“Even though it was scary to dive into the unknown, I didn’t want to hold him back from what he has always wanted to do,” said Christy Franco, Alex‘s wife. “I think I help him by encouraging him, believing in him and helping him believe in himself.”

After graduating ALS and returning to his job, Franco tested for staff sergeant and continued learning from his supervisors.

Staff sergeant results were released Aug. 25, and Franco’s name was on the list, showing everyone’s hard work pays off.