Instructors build Airmen into leaders

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Airman Leadership School brings Airmen one step closer to more pay, an extra stripe on their sleeve, and an increase of their responsibilities, but to the instructors at Eielson's ALS, it is a lifestyle in which they are passionate about teaching the valuable leadership skills to the Air Force's future enlisted leaders.

"One simple reason ALS is important is because the Air Force says so. Enlisted members can't sew on Staff Sergeant unless they attend and graduate from ALS," said Master Sergeant Daniel Dwyer, Commandant and Flight Chief of ALS. "More importantly it gives Senior Airmen the foundation to begin supervising/mentoring brand new Airmen. If these new Airmen are supervised by an individual who is prepared and educated then they are more likely to have a positive beginning to their career and that goes a long way toward their decision to continue serving in the Air Force."

Tech. Sgt. Cornelius Mingo, Lead ALS instructor of four years with two Masters Degrees in Education, focuses his passion for teaching into some key areas of ALS curriculum.

"I enjoy teaching Airmen group dynamics, team development and conflict management, which go hand in hand for everyday situations," he said. "The difference in personalities from class to class keeps the instructors from burning out, since the curriculum is always the same for every class."

ALS is a five-week Air Education and Training Command course, which takes senior airmen and teaches them the skills they need to become staff sergeants and proficient non-commissioned officers. The students are selected based on criteria such as line number for promotion, time in service, time in grade, and those who are slated for overseas short tours where it's likely that they will be promoted.

While Airmen know graduating ALS is dependent on following their instructors, few may know that the instructors are often appreciative of their students attitudes.

"My experience in ALS was awesome. It was really nice to work so closely with our active duty counter parts. We had a very close class. My primary instructor really made the class a fun learning environment. I could tell that she put all her time and effort into our class. She inspired me to continue to pursue my goals in the Air Force," said Senior Airman Alisa Rivera, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who attended with her husband, Senior Airman Alex Rivera Paz and two other Guardsmen's from the 168th LRS.

Airman Rivera received the John L. Levitow as an outstanding Airman with the highest grades and voted as the class leader by her peers. John L. Levitow is the lowest ranking Airman to earn the Medal of Honor in 1969 during the Vietnam War.

The instructors make an investment in the students taking every opportunity in the class to give Airmen the many tools needed to be great leaders.

Eielson ALS was awarded the 2008 Best ALS in PACAF award based on the school as a whole including the instructors' involvement in professional development, volunteer work, and the students' grades.

Staff Sgt. Jeanne Perkins, a junior academic instructor, volunteered for the special duty because she really enjoyed her experience with other students and learning from her instructors when she went through ALS.

"I just want to give the mentorship back to the Airmen and hopefully instill core values amongst our future non-commissioned officers," said Sergeant Perkins.

The ALS instructor special duty is a three-year and four-year assignment at overseas and stateside locations respectively.

"I do know that this job is very rewarding. Talking with the previous commandant there's nothing better than seeing the senior airmen you graduated grow and become great NCOs. I'm looking forward to the interaction with the junior enlisted force and will use this knowledge to continue training and mentoring Airmen after my commandant tour is up" said Master Sgt Daniel Dwyer. "Even though I've only been doing this for three months now I'm extremely happy that I was hired for this job and look forward to the rest of my time."