ALS prepares future AF leaders

Published March 28, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Zachary Kee
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman Leadership School is the first step to Professional Military Education for senior airmen and staff sergeants in the Air Force as they prepare to become front-line supervisors.

For Staff Sgt. Reginald Shields, 35th Maintenance Squadron knowledge operations manager and ALS class 13-C commander, this showed him what being a supervisor in the Air Force is all about.

"ALS showed me that identifying an Airman's characteristics is the first step in the supervisor process," said Shields. "You have to be able to identify your Airman's characteristics so you can work with them one-on-one."

ALS is a five week course composed of four graduate components. These consist of military professionalism, expeditionary Airmen, supervisory communicator and supervisory of Airmen.

"During ALS, instructors focus on these key graduate components," said Staff Sgt. Demareo Smith, 35th Force Support Squadron ALS instructor. "Our job is to make sure when the students get back to their duty sections, they have an understanding of what is required of them as supervisors."

While in ALS, Airmen also study Air Force heritage, time management, Enlisted Performance Report writing, leadership styles and warrior mindset. On top of this, Airmen are given the time and opportunity to develop a good foundation of what the Air Force considers to be high-quality characteristics and values of a supervisor.

"ALS allowed me to witness different perspectives I haven't seen before," said Shields. "Now, I can see what the Air Force's big picture is and I can apply what I learned to my work center moving forward."