JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- More than 80 Airman Leadership School graduates from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson took part May 10 in a new Pacific Air Forces-wide initiative for all ALS graduates to reinforce information obtained in Initial Supervisor Resiliency Training.
At the forefront of this initiative is a bus tour the day after graduation, which offers an opportunity to see and interact with the programs and resources discussed during the course.
“About halfway through ALS, an Emergent Leadership Issues lesson is taught,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Darrell Delacruz, 673d Air Base Wing Professional Military Education instructor. “Our goal is to provide our first-line supervisors the information about resiliency services offered on our base so they can help their subordinates in times of need.”
ALS is a mandatory course that senior airmen typically must attend before pinning on staff sergeant. It is a leadership course which provides the foundation of how to be a good leader and supervisor. Agencies visited included Sexual Assault and Prevention (SAPR), Warrior Zone, Equal Opportunity (EO), Mental Health and Outdoor Recreation.
“Today’s tour was extremely beneficial in a lot of ways,” said Senior Airman Larry Brown, 673d ABW Judge Advocate General Office paralegal. “Many of us heard acronyms of agencies we could send our troops to, but it didn’t really click until we were standing in the offices, talking to the members who run them. I think we all have an improved understanding of not only what agencies are available on a base, but how they can help. It also gave me a better perspective on the very realistic chance that we will run into potential issues these agencies can help with.”
Military members all go through tough times, but not all supervisors have experienced the situations their troops might be facing. Having knowledge of available resources helps everyone.
“Taking this tour has definitely broadened my view for opportunities for utilizing base resources,” said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Reed, USCG Sector Anchorage engineering division. “Sector Anchorage has a few of its own smaller versions of programs such as SAPR, EO, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. However, being able to use our sister service’s programs can greatly increase our effectiveness.”
For noncommissioned officers of all branches of service, working together to positively impact the lives of subordinates and one another is a priority that cannot be taken lightly.
“This tour gives each graduate critical knowledge that can help assist their troops during hard times,” Delacruz said. “Knowing where services are and the resources they can offer will better them as a person and as a supervisor. We need to be able to support our Airmen, to be there for them and help them become resilient so they can perform at their best.”