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ALS class ready for Air Force future

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. James Eilers, commander of the 72nd Mission Support Group, told graduates of Tinker's Airman Leadership School to remain motivated as they pursue their Air Force careers.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Colonel Eilers said he used numerous goals to motivate him throughout his 33-year Air Force career. Twenty-four Airmen graduated June 11 from Tinker's ALS.

"This approach took me from airman to staff sergeant and from lieutenant to colonel," said Colonel Eilers. "My message to you is simple: figure out what motivates you, dream big and set goals and go after them."

The sight of his supervisor's staff sergeant stripes was the initial motivation for a then-Airman Eilers to continue his Air Force career following a tour of duty at an air base in Spain.

"One day my supervisor, who I really admired, asked me if I'd pick up his uniforms," Colonel Eilers said. "I did and, as I was walking across the parking lot carrying his uniforms over mine, I looked at his staff sergeant stripes and thought how much I'd like to be like him. I thought how neat it would be to be a staff sergeant and a supervisor. So I focused on what it took to get promoted and that became my new goal."

ALS is the first step to becoming a non-commissioned officer. Those earmarked for promotion to Staff Sergeant must successfully complete the course, which is also open to Senior Airmen with more than 48 months of service who may be in a supervisory role of other airmen. Successful completion of the course also provides graduates with 10 hours of college credit for the Community College of the Air Force.

Colonel Eilers said the desire to fly prompted him to gain a bachelor's degree and an officer's commission. Although his eyesight precluded an Air Force flying career, he nevertheless gained a commercial pilot's license.

"The purpose of telling you these stories wasn't to tell you all about me, but to share with you what made me successful," Colonel Eilers said. "It really wasn't complicated. I took the time to realize what motivated me, sometimes they were positive motivators and sometimes they were negative. But I allowed them to inspire me. I dreamed big, knowing there wasn't anything I couldn't do and I set goals that were clearly defined and pursued them."

One of more than 80 ALS facilities around the country, Tinker's school graduates between 270 and 300 students per year. The next ALS session will see the school operating at maximum capacity, says Master Sgt. Jim Peters, Tinker ALS commandant.

"The next class will be 54 students in four flights," he said. "That's our maximum capacity."

A Flight Graduates

965th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Anthony Aranda
Senior Airman Erik Bylsma

552nd Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Anthony Grant
Senior Airman Wayne Grimm
Staff Sgt. Katie Gutierrez

72nd Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Jonathon Jetiz

960th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Distinguished Graduate and Leadership
Award winner
Senior Airman James Knox

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Academic Award winner
Senior Airman Ashley Newell

552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Adam Rook

966th Airborne Control Squadron
John Levitow Award winner
Senior Airman Joel Soto

507th Civil Engineer Squadron
Senior Airman Elmer Swan

552nd Maintenance Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Michael Terriault

B Flight

966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman David Boyd

552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Staff Sgt. Donald Dichristopher

960th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Jesus Garcia

964th Airborne Control Squadron
Senior Airman Michael Garcia

965th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Dustin Gilmore

552nd Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Nicholas Glerup

960th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Bradley Hartman

963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron
Freedom Citation essay winner
Staff Sgt. Carolyn Leonforte


965th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Misti Neill

552nd Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Elvin Owens
Senior Airman Michael Paul

552nd Air Control Networks
Senior Airman Jessy Wilks