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JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Airmen Leadership School's mission statement for, "to prepare senior airmen to be professional, warfighting airmen who can supervise and lead Air Force work teams to support the employment of air, space and cyberspace power," has a slightly different connotation for the Coast Guardsmen and sailors who are currently participating in the course here at the Kish ALS.
The current ALS class includes two sailors from Lakehurst and a Coast Guardsman from Cape May, N.J. Service members from these sisters services enrolled in past courses, but never before have they taken part in the same iteration; something the commandant of the school looks forward to advancing.
"The multi-service environment gives classmates a broader perspective on how each service operates," said Master Sgt. Jad Aoun, Kish Airman Leadership School commandant from Pittsburgh. "They can share their experiences which brings more diversity for everyone. This is another way the joint base has come together to pool our resources."
ALS is a five-week Air Force program designed to develop airmen into effective front-line supervisors. It is the first professional military education enlisted Air Force members encounter.
No other service requires their soon-to-be E-5s to attend a month-long course like ALS, said Aoun. The Navy leadership here became interested two years ago in sending some sharp sailors to attend the class to improve their leadership abilities.
"The command master chiefs from units near and far coordinate with me to get their people enrolled," said the commandant. "They've seen our program and want to involve their folks. We've seen a definite increase in other services' interest although we are still working to get the Marines and soldiers on board."
Enrollees from others services can either apply or be chosen by their leadership.
"My leadership told me I was put forward for the course," said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Feldt, 305th Operations Support Squadron electronics technician from Detroit. "I was initially nervous, yet excited to attend a course to learn about the Air force culture while also learning to be a better leader."
ALS focuses on developing leadership abilities as well as effective communication.
"I want to graduate this course with a better understanding of another service, while also ramping up my communication and leadership abilities," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Colvin, 87th Force Support Squadron administration assistant from Jeffersonville, Ind. "I heard it would be a lot of work but I figured it would be worth it in the end."
ALS covers combat leadership, military professionalism, airmen supervision, verbal and written communication and group dynamics. A majority of the instruction focuses around various Air Force rules and regulations.
"I knew coming into the class I would have to work harder than my classmates and perhaps spend more time studying because most of the course work would involve Air Force policy," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class James Vasquez, Cape May facilities engineering technician from Los Angeles. "A shipmate from my shop went through the course and won the Commandant Leadership Award. He told me to go hard and give it a hundred and ten percent."
The class of Coast Guardsmen, sailors and airmen will earn their certificate of graduation Sept. 5.
Editors note: The Air, Land and Sea Times will publish a second article after the class graduation to recap the experience from these sister-service members.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2012 09:31 |
| Story ID: | 92981 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Hometown: | DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US |
| Hometown: | JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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