ALS flight chief prepares future leaders Published Oct. 18, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- There are no pep rallies at this school or training instructors shouting orders and expecting perfection, but there is a committed instructor dedicated to producing the next generation of enlisted leaders. Airman Leadership School, or ALS as it is more commonly known, is the first level of professional military education for enlisted members and readies senior airmen for higher levels of responsibility within the Air Force. "ALS is 24 academic days of instruction, covering topics from leadership to the profession of arms, and is standardized across the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Shannon Rix, 319th Force Support Squadron ALS flight chief. "The overall objective of Airman Leadership School is to have our students walk out of here and be better prepared to be supervisors and leaders. We make sure they're prepared for the roles and responsibilities as non-commissioned officers," said Sergeant Rix. The school, which is taught at almost every base across the Air Force, developed out of the NCO Preparatory School in the early 1990s. It is open to senior airmen with at least 48 months time in service or those who have been selected for promotion to staff sergeant. It is possible to waiver the time in service requirement for Airmen who have 42 months in the Air Force and will be departing their home station for a remote assignment that does not have an ALS facility. Highly deserving Airmen who have at least 46 months of service can also be selected to attend the school after being identified by a first sergeant or commander. One of the key concepts that is taught to the students is to begin the transition from solely thinking about themselves and their careers to thinking about others as supervisors. "Up to this point, it has been all about them. They have been taking care of their careers, hopefully with the help of a good supervisor," said Sergeant Rix. "Now it's the time for them to take responsibility; take those Airmen under their wing and pass on what they have learned," she added. The school is always in a constant state of evaluation. Each class is asked to fill out critiques so that instructors are aware of what areas may need strengthening and which others may need less emphasis. Sergeant Rix also receives feedback when she comes across former students back working at their jobs. "The best feeling I get from this job is when I come across a former student at the BX some Saturday, and you can see that gratitude in their face and how they express their thoughts," said Sergeant Rix. "We might be in the middle of the next class or it may have been six classes ago, but we are always having students come back and thanking us for what we did for them. Sometimes, it's even for some guidance on a situation they are experiencing in their workstations," she said. Whether they are Security Force members or maintenance personnel, ALS is the first step to building the next generation of enlisted leaders. Taking highly motivated Airmen and readying them to be sergeants is a responsibility that is taken seriously by the instructors. It is a job that Sergeant Rix truly relishes. "I have a passion for education, and I truly love seeing the light come on when they get a concept or an idea," said Sergeant Rix. "That's the most rewarding part," she said.