ALS Leads the Rest

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jesse Lopez
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Pubic Affiars
ALTUS, Okla. - --  Students of Altus Air Force Base Airman Leadership School's Class of 2013-Bravo, volunteered their time to paint, clean up and repair the Imagination Station, a local community park, Jan. 26, 2013.

ALS is the first level of enlisted professional military education mandatory for all Senior Airmen before becoming a Staff Sergeant. The class of 16 Airmen worked to refurbish and renovate the various pieces in the Imagination Station. With panels repainted, deteriorating boards replaced and fences rebuilt, the student's efforts brought new life to the area, fueled by the goal of bringing happiness to the children of Altus.

"We challenge every class to come up with a volunteer project to aid the community and develop the well-rounded Airmen mindset that we try to instill in the students," said Staff Sgt. Philip Ryan, 97th Training Squadron ALS instructor.

During the five-week course, a community service project is required to successfully complete this leadership training.

"Being an Airman means having the ability to do your job to help the Air Force achieve its mission and give back to our local communities," said Senior Airman Andrew Thurman, 97th Air Mobility Wing Command Chief's assistant.

The morning of the event was led by class members, who arrived at the park with all the equipment and supplies needed. The students were involved in all phases of the project including, coordination, set-up, aiding, tear-down and clean-up.

"It's a small community," said Thurman. "We're given the opportunity to build a strong tie to our local community, especially in a small town and base like Altus."

The flight groups understood that the community project could not interfere with other curriculum or the training schedule of the rest of the course, so they chose a Saturday to conduct the project.

During this community service project, the students of ALS Class 2013-Bravo demonstrated their service to our nation and community.