ALS graduates ready for next leadership steps Published March 27, 2009 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Graduates of the Airman Leadership School got their marching orders -- and a bit of a history lesson -- during their graduation ceremony last week. A retired command chief master sergeant and the current commander of the 72nd Force Support Squadron, Dan Bell challenged the 34-member graduating Class 09-D to put into practice what they have learned during their six-week stint in the classroom. Mr. Bell served as the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony March 19. "Be ready for change," Mr. Bell advised. "You have made the first step on your professional military education journey that will prepare you for the future." The service-wide Airman Leadership School is a requirement for senior airmen in a supervisory position or those in line for promotion to staff sergeant. "Be proud of what you've accomplished," Mr. Bell said. "Class 09-Delta, you're ready." "You're absolutely ready," added Col. Allen Jamerson, 72nd Air Base Wing commander. "You're ready for what you'll face ... You're not just the future, you are today's combat warriors." The Air Force created the school in the 1990s after reorganization of the enlisted force structure. Mr. Bell attended the ALS's precursor in the 1970s and said the difference in the curriculum is striking. In his day, the emphasis was on spit-and-polish inspections and intricate marching maneuvers under the watchful eye of veteran instructors. "They were gruff, hard on discipline and acted as if my career depended on what they had to say," Mr. Bell recalled. "It wasn't until some years later that I truly understood why they pushed us as if we were in basic training. They knew that we would leave the schoolhouse and eventually serve as supervisors and mentors to young Airmen who came to us for guidance and advice. "At the time, I counted the days till I could leave," Mr. Bell continued. "Now, years later, I wish I could go back." The modern ALS is less spit-and-polish and more academically oriented. More emphasis is placed on guided, open discussions than on polishing the floor. Mr. Bell estimates the Air Force spends an average of $38,000 on each ALS student, or more than $1 million on each graduating class. But, he says, it is money the Air Force is willing to spend as an investment in leadership. Mr. Bell told the graduates to repay that investment by using their new leadership skills and by being ready for change. Graduates 31st Combat Communications Squadron Senior Airman Jordan T. Fitzgerald, Senior Airman Aaron M. Jones Staff Sgt. William B. Page 32nd Combat Communications Squadron Senior Airman Joel A. Gil Senior Airman William K. Lane 34th Combat Communications Squadron Senior Airman Ruben E. Rubio Senior Airman Jason D. Willis 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman Aaron K. Brown Senior Airman Zachary F. Dehart Senior Airman Miguel Gonzalez III Senior Airman Rodney R. Poe 552nd Maintenance Operations Squadron Senior Airman Robert C. Kennedy Senior Airman, Angel Paita 552nd Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman, Eric T. Crotsley Senior Airman, Rhett J. Johnson Senior Airman, David E. Koch Senior Airman, Matthew J. Miller Senior Airman, Andrew J. Myers Senior Airman, Nicholas A. Shannon Senior Airman, Brian M. Volkmar 552nd Operations Support Squadron Senior Airman, Nicholas Owen Goddard 72nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman, Joseph J. A. Orton, 72nd Dental Squadron Senior Airman, Lauren C. Kelly 72nd Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman, Matthew B. Howard, Senior Airman, Jose R. Tomlinson Jr. 72nd Operations Support Squadron Senior Airman, James R. Cole 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman. Kevin D Becton 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron Senior Airman, Wesley C. Davis Senior Airman, Daniel L. Deboodt Senior Airman, David A. Smith 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron Senior Airman, Jennifer L. Boots Senior Airman, Christopher J. Rock Senior Airman, Brian A. Trosper 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron Senior Airman, Dawn M. Gilmore Staff Sgt. Matthew A. King