ALS grads collect three of four awards

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The latest Team Vance Airman to graduate from Airman Leadership School at Altus AFB, Okla. returned with more than just completion certificates following their March 19 graduation.
SSgt Elvin Billy, Jr., 71st Operations Support Squadron, brought home two honors, the Distinguished Graduate and Academic awards while SSgt Jackie Duncan, 71st Security Forces Squadron, earned the Leadership Award.
SSgt Dustin Webster was the third Team Vance member graduating in Class 04- D.
"The Vance representatives in this class showed we've got highly intelligent and highly motivated Airman on our team of expeditionary air warrior's training tomorrow's leaders," said CMSgt Jeffery Kallas, 71st Flying Training Wing command chief.
" Sergeant Billy's performance was especially impressive because nearly halfway through the class he was tabbed by the school staff to change seminars and replace that section's leader who had been injured in a motorcycle accident. That he was able to not only integrate into the new group but become the class leader speaks well of his personality and leadership abilities," Chief Kallas said.
"I'm sure the skills we learned will be of help with my new NCO status and future goals, Sergeant Billy said. The New Orleans native is an air traffic controller at Vance, where he has been about 4 years.
The goal of ALS is preparing senior airmen for supervisory goals and is a mandatory requirement before attaining noncommissioned officer status.
"Receiving the Leadership award meant a great deal to me," Sergeant Duncan said. "This award was voted by my classmates and I'm honored think of me in that capacity."
SSgt Timothy Coleman, 71 SFS and Sergeant Duncan's supervisor was not surprised by the award, " Sergeant Duncan is a hard work and displays the dedication to completing the mission that bodes well for his future as an NCO," he said.
Chief Callas said the base has instituted new procedures for ALS students that were first used with the group of 5 Vance Airmen currently attending ALS.
"We are bringing the base participants together as a group before they leave for the school. We give them a presentation on what to expect and have past graduates talk about their experiences. We also have a little drill and ceremony review to help ease their tensions about participating in that aspect of the class curriculum," the Chief said.
"We will be expanding this program to include all of our professional military education attendees to help prepare them for success."