New Air Force NCO education center opens Published Sept. 27, 2010 By Luke Waack JBER PAO JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The newest facility in Air Force Professional Military Education officially opened its doors on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 17. The ribbon was cut near the east entrance of the facility, Sept. 17, by retired Chief Master Ser-geant of the Air Force (13th) Jim Finch, Col. Robert D. Evans, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander and Chief Master Sgt. Grant Murphy, PME commandant. "This will be, no doubt, the example for the rest of the United States Air Force for the academies that belong to the college for en¬listed PME and their educational training command will look at this as a model," Finch said, in front of audience of approximately 200 Airmen, Soldiers and civilians. Finch gave credit to the leaders who fought to make the new PME a reality. "For the NCOs and Airmen who will come through this pro¬gram, don't ever forget the fact that this happened because the leader¬ship of the Air Force, the leadership of PACAF and the leadership here think this is important," he said. The wing commander high¬lighted the importance of the facility to JBER and the military at large. "This is a great moment for our Air Force today in Alaska, because these Airmen that come through here and coast guardsmen as well, from our total force active, guard and reserve will forever take what they learn here into our future air force," Evans said. Senior Airmen selected for promotion to staff sergeant and technical sergeants selected for promotion to master sergeant will attend Airman Leadership School and noncommissioned Officer Academy classes in a new $13 million, 22,000-square foot facility near the intersection of Arctic War¬rior Drive and Fairchild Avenue, with parking off of 11th Street. The PME also provides education to Coast Guard enlisted members eligible for professional development. The new PME is an improve¬ment in many ways on the old facility, a converted dining facility, according to Master Sgt. Chris¬topher Jimenez, PME director of education. Features in the new PME center include white boards, flat screen TVs, updated individual room climate control, full service career assistance advisors and an audito¬rium which seats 160 people, ver¬sus the old PME auditorium which seated 70. The NCOA curriculum is taught over 28 days. ALS is 24 days. All classes are taught by certified instructors and the PME is accredited by the Community Col¬lege of the Air Force and inspected by the Barnes Center. NCOA starts four days ear¬lier than ALS so that both groups graduate the same day. On average, the PME graduates 780 students each year, Jimenez said. Class titles include military professional, supervisory of Air¬men, combat leader, and the unit manager. Both courses are in resident; Airmen go home at night if stationed at JBER. Students from other bases stay in lodging. Students earn college credit while attending ALS and NCOA. A retreat ceremony was held at the former PME at 8124 Doolittle Avenue, Sept. 15, when cadre and a student honor guard cased the col¬ors for transport to the new facility.