Airman Leadership School class comes to Vance Published March 9, 2015 By 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs 71st Flying Training Wing VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- For the first time ever, Vance has its own Airman Leadership School class. Sixteen senior airmen from squadrons around the base began their 24 days of training at the Professional Development Center here Feb. 19. The course is their first level of professional military education required for promotion to the rank of staff sergeant. "ALS is the foundation for Airmen to become the next generation of leaders in the Air Force," said Master Sgt. James Goswick, the ALS commandant. Goswick, along with two instructors, are from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, but on temporary duty assignment to Vance. For many years, Vance Airmen would travel to Altus to take the class. But that changed on Nov. 21, 2014, when senior leaders from both bases signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows Team Vance to host ALS classes. The MOU is a five-year partnership and will be reviewed annually, said Goswick. According to Goswick, the move to bring instructors here vice sending Airmen on a temporary duty assignment to Altus will save the Air Force more than $2,600 in TDY costs per student. The current ALS curriculum was introduced in 2011, and the class is attended by Airmen who hold the rank of senior airman with 36 - 72 months of time in service. ALS is the first time Airmen are formally introduced to the responsibilities required to be quality frontline supervisors. During the class, students learn how to write Enlisted Performance Reports, complete supervisor and subordinate feedbacks, write decorations and counseling statements, control a marching flight, and improve written and oral communication skills. Airmen who graduate the course will receive 10 credit hours toward their Community College of the Air Force degree - five hours in Leadership Management, three hours in Managerial Communications and two hours in Military Studies. Each ALS class wraps up with a graduation dinner where Airmen wear their semi-formal uniforms, many for the first time in their careers. This is a change from the way Altus has traditionally hosted ALS graduations. "When classes graduated at Altus, a luncheon was held in order to accommodate the schedules of Team Vance leadership who traveled down for the event," said Goswick. "Now, both bases will host formal dinners, where graduates will be recognized for their accomplishments." Class 15-D is scheduled to graduate March 25 at the Vance Club.