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Tinker’s ALS diversifies

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  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker's Airman Leadership School is the second-largest, developmental-level Enlisted Professional Military Education schoolhouse in Air Force Materiel Command.  It recently hosted the most diverse group of students in its history. The class graduated yesterday.

ALS class 16-A was 25 percent larger than normal and was able to accommodate students from 32 different career fields, according to Master Sgt. Bobby Kazmir, ALS commandant.

"The outstanding instructors here at Tinker make it a point to capitalize on the diverse range of skills. This helps students see the value of what each and every person brings to the fight."

Class 16-A was further diversified across the total force. Twenty percent of the student population hailed from the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve.

"We saw this as a perfect opportunity to help fulfill Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark Welsh's vision of creating a fully integrated, operationally capable, total force," Sergeant Kazmir said.

ALS also hosted three Navy students from Strategic Communications Wing ONE.

"This was especially valuable to the training," said Sergeant Kazmir. "With modern military operations being more joint than ever in our nation's history, it is vital that the Department of Defense's future leaders are truly able to see things from a joint perspective."

The curriculum is embedded with how Airmen integrate and operate with Soldiers, Sailors and Marines. "The addition of students from other services truly offers an added dimension of how to work with and lead members of the joint team, and each instructor knows this," Sergeant Kazmir said.

Veteran instructor Staff Sgt. Justin Stewart commented, "The joint lessons are great for opening up students' eyes to the other branches, because we need to know more about our sister services. It's inevitable that we'll be working with them whether in garrison or deployed."

Tinker's newest instructor, Staff Sgt. David Trevino, said coming from a Security Forces background, he's seen first-hand how troops deploy jointly.

"We have to rely on one another in theater, regardless of service," he said. "Giving our students face-to-face contact with members of the other services enhances continuity for the warfighter downrange."

Tech. Sgt. Rachael Long, senior instructor, said having Airmen come together and discuss operating jointly is certainly productive.

"However, without truly seeing things from the perspective of another service, learning isn't as effective as it could be," she said.

"The luxury of being able to educate jointly doesn't happen as often as we'd like, so having our Navy brothers and sisters co-located with us here at Tinker presents a huge opportunity," said Sergeant Kazmir. "With the integration accomplished here, learning occurs both ways. This adds value to all students regardless of service and creates a substantial return on investment across the DOD."

Tinker Airman Leadership School executes the extremely critical mission of molding the Air Force's future leaders and supervisors.  The course is required by the Air Force before Senior Airmen can promote to Staff Sergeant. 

Annually, the school graduates nearly 300 students over seven classes.  While the overall focus is on Air Force leaders, the school hosts joint-services students whenever possible.

Sergeant Kazmir said to include the total force in this graduation, cadets with the Oklahoma Wing Civil Air Patrol, Edmond Composite Squadron, performed the color guard at graduation.

"This falls right in line with updated Air Force doctrine which includes Civil Air Patrol in the total force," he said.

Class 16-A graduates

137th Civil Engineer Squadron
Senior Airman Ethan Patton
Senior Airman Dylan Robins
Senior Airman Krystal Wolfe

138th Civil Engineer Squadron
Senior Airman Ryan Erickson

507th Civil Engineer Squadron
Senior Airman Travis Meske

507th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Staff Sgt. Clifford Mueggenborg
Senior Airman Shalay Stancle

507th Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Sanchez Banks
Senior Airman Richard Nimakoh Boadu

552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Timothy Burress
Senior Airman Corey Edwards
Senior Airman Adam Filer
Senior Airman Joseph Harris
Senior Airman Sherlaine Rivera
Senior Airman Gregory Ross
Senior Airman Nicholas Wisor

552nd Air Control/Networks Squadron
Senior Airman Andrew Freeman
Senior Airman Cheyanne Harris
Senior Airman Bryan Mancebo Sebrell

552nd Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Zackary Garner
Senior Airman Daniel Mauricio, distinguished graduate
Senior Airman Farris Norris
Senior Airman Andrew Troiano
Senior Airman Cody Wickham
Senior Airman Eric Zach

552nd Operations Support Squadron
Senior Airman Jonathan Luna
Senior Airman Shawn Simmons

72nd Comproller Squadron
Senior Airman Kristen Cochran

72nd Dental Squadron
Senior Airman Heather Weber
72nd Logistics Readiness Squadron

Senior Airman Jordan Mcclelland
72nd Medical Operations Squadron

Senior Airman Patrick Allen, distinguished graduate
72nd Medical Support Squadron

Senior Airman Kelton Eddins
72nd Security Forces Squadron

Senior Airman Carley Philippe, Freedom Citation Award winner
Senior Airman Brian Sanchez

960th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman John Aliberti
Senior Airman Aaron Souza
Senior Airman Benjamin Weaver

963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman William Washko, Leadership Award winner and distinguished graduate

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Cody Desmarais, Academic Achievement and Sharp Image

966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Senior Airman Brandon Adams

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE
Petty Officer 2nd Class Brianna Bays, John L. Levitow Award winner

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR
Petty Officer 3rd Class Dane Huss
Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Ippolito

OL K 1 Weather Group
Senior Airman Freddie Martinez

Freedom Citation Essay

Senior Airman Carley Philippe
72nd Security Forces Squadron

Freedom--a simple word, with immeasurable meaning. What is freedom? Some hear the word and immediately think of Old Glory, the red, white and blue. Some think of sacrifice... while others think of possibilities. Freedom takes on various forms because of individual experiences, and each form is equally powerful.

To me, freedom is a gift. Most Americans cannot fathom life without freedom. Why? All but 1 percent of our country's population has never had the opportunity to see how other countries desperately long to reach the level of progression our country has gotten to. Sure, most are able to identify with what freedom provides, but when you witness an impoverished, disenfranchised country with your own eyes, that's when freedom takes on an entirely different meaning. To witness such agony is humbling.

Truthfully, my heart still aches because those families may never know the liberating happiness I have.

Long ago, a few bold people decided they wanted more for their children and future generations. They decided all citizens, as human beings, deserved to have the right to choose. They believed people should have the ability to work hard and achieve whatever they were willing to reach for, regardless of social status at birth.

This innovative thinking started a movement. The same bold idea led to thousands willingly laying down their lives to ensure it became a reality. Since then, we as Americans have prospered in the pursuit of happiness and equality. We have inherited a society where liberty and possibilities are at each of our fingertips, waiting to be passionately chased after.

To me, freedom is an opportunity to be something greater than myself. As a woman in the military, I am humbled when I reflect on those who have come before me. Because of those unapologetically brave men and women long ago, I have the opportunity to do anything I could ever dream of. I do not have to fear for my life for speaking my mind. I am able to contribute to a progressive society with intellectual thought and action. I have met women overseas in my Air Force journey who could only dream of this sort of idea. To them, this idea is only fantasy.

There is not a more liberating feeling than knowing those around me are able to believe, achieve, and conquer anything they set their hearts to without fear of reprisal or violence. This is powerful. However, freedom is not given. A devastating threat to our way of life lingers if we forget how we as a people have achieved freedom.

In order to continue to defend our freedoms and what they mean to each of us, we must remember. We must honor those who fought and sacrificed so we could live on to achieve their fearless ideas. We would be doing these heroes an injustice if we did not take full advantage of those freedoms they fought so valiantly for. It is our duty to keep moving forward, keep innovating, and keep fighting to ensure freedom lives on for our children and their children after them. The horror of oppression will seep back into society if we lay dormant and refuse to keep fighting forward. We must keep moving. 

So, what does freedom mean to me? There is no way to convey such a feeling in one word. If I had only one word to convey what freedom means to me, it would have to be hope. Hope leads us in each of our journeys to grasping our own piece of freedom.