Airman Leadership School: Enlisted forces’ first glimpse into ‘big picture’ Air Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO --  Professional military education happens at regular intervals throughout Airmen's careers. At Air Force Global Strike Command's Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., senior airmen get their first installment of PME by attending Airman Leadership School.

In the course of a year, about 182 Airmen attend ALS here. They are given skills to help them become, as stated in the mission statement, "professional, warfighting Airmen who can supervise and lead Air Force work teams to support the employment of air, space and cyberspace power."

ALS acts as a gentle reminder of Air Force responsibility, said Master Sgt. Katrina King, 90th Missile Wing command section superintendent and former ALS instructor.

"[ALS] is one of the first steps in PME where Airmen get a chance to see the 'big picture,'" said Master Sgt. Jennifer Moore, 90th Forces Support Squadron ALS commandant.

One of the courses that shows Warren's Airmen the big picture the most is the "Expeditionary Airman" block, said Tech. Sgt. Patricia Souder, 90th FSS ALS instructor. It acts as an eye-opener to how things are done in a deployed environment, which a majority of the Airmen here don't get a chance to see.

All of the instructional blocks build on each other said Tech. Sgt. Branden Neeley, 90th FSS ALS instructor.

"But, I think the 'Contemporary Military Leadership' block is when things start really clicking for the students," Sergeant Neeley said.

The one thing Airmen know they will learn during ALS is how to write bullet statements and how to conduct feedback sessions, said Tech. Sgt. Zac Parish, 90th FSS ALS instructor. So, when they get to the "Supervisor Communicator" block, which is when writing bullet statements is taught, they become even more engaged.

All of the lessons learned in ALS compound on top of each other, and can be applied to any situation someone faces in their Air Force career, Sergeant Moore said. And, not only do the lessons learned apply right now, they are the foundations of lessons taught at each level of enlisted PME.

After completing ALS, the next main enlisted PME is the NCO Academy, for technical sergeants, and then the Senior NCO Academy, for master sergeants. Following this, and after selection for chief master sergeant, they will attend Chief Leadership Course, Sergeant Moore said. During the years when one may not be eligible to attend formal enlisted PME, there are seminars and other chances to still develop in that area.