Texas Airmen Leadership Course Graduates Future Leaders

San Antonio, Texas -- Students of Texas Airman Leadership School Class (ALS) 09-1 are just a few hours from graduation. The mission of this course is to prepare senior airmen for supervisory duties and foster a commitment to the profession of arms. These students have completed the course work and all of their testing and are anxiously awaiting the results. Would this class continue the seminar's tradition of having a 100% pass rate? While the students wait for the final results, they have the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with the top leadership of the Texas Air National Guard in an open forum.      
     First, the airmen asked questions of the Command Chiefs from across the state. As the senior enlisted leaders for the State of Texas, the Chiefs also used this time to communicate back to the Airmen a better understanding of their commander's intent, policies and vision.
     The Commander's of the 3 Wings in the state conduct the next open forum discussion with the Airmen. They emphasized that the missions across the state are rapidly changing. They encourage them to continue their Professional Military Education and to stay involved.
     Shortly, before the final forum begin, Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Condon, Commandant for ALS Class 09-1, enters the room and announces that Class 09-1 continues the 100% pass rate of the course. All 38 students have successfully completed the course.
     The students' resounding shouts of jubilation are heard throughout the ALS compound. "The confident looks on their faces, as they congratulated one another, was exciting," commented CMSgt Priscilla Leger, Command Chief of the 147 Reconnaissance Wing.
     The students celebrate for a brief moment then prepare for the final forum with Brigadier General John Nichols, Commander of the Texas Air National Guard.
Brig Gen Nichols begins with, "You are a part of a noble organization charged with defending this country."
     The general states he has confidence in our Airmen and has established four particular areas of emphasis that he charges the class with to continue making the Texas Military Forces a great organization:
- Be nice to people and treat others the way you wants to be treated
- Don't forget to mentor others and say thank you for feedback you receive
- Put forth an effort to make your unit a place where you would want your kids to join
- Do it again making the challenge an ongoing process
Brig Gen Nichols closes by answering questions for the Airmen. 
     
The final event for the Airmen is a graduation ceremony held at the Enlisted Club at Lackland Air Force Base where Brig Gen Joseph Lengyel was the guest speaker. 
     "ALS is a great course," said Brig Gen Lengyel. "You were taught many leadership skills essential to becoming a supervisor." He challenged the class to teach and enforce those skills to other Airmen.
     After the speaker the ALS students received a completion certificate for the course.

Award winners were:
CMSgt William M. Maginot Award for Excellence
SrA Jaime Trapp-Walker, 147th Reconnaissance Wing

Academic Achievement Award
SrA Amanda M. Lewis, 149th Fighter Wing

Leadership Award
SSgt John M. Ewers, 149th Fighter Wing

Sarah Bourgeois Leadership Award
SSgt James E. Bruce, 136th Airlift Wing