UNIDISCLOSED LOCATION, Southwest Asia -- The latest class of Airpower Leadership Academy has graduated. More than 80 Airmen from units across the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing participated in the eight- week program, attending two hours of classes per week. Students were selected by nomination from their unit leadership to learn more about making difficult decisions, leadership vs. management and teamwork.
“We’re trying to create the best leaders that the military has ever known,” said ALA Director, Master Sgt. Gillian Bennett. “The program sharpens understanding of our primary roles as a leader and focuses on Agile Combat Employment. We’ve always had an ALA course, but this is the first class that nailed ACE!”
Airmen came together from a variety of career fields, meaning the lessons were focused on development and not specific job tasks.
“It was a great experience for me because I just promoted during this deployment,” said Staff Sgt. Yuting Zhang, 389th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron debrief technician. “I was able to get a lot of perspective on leadership from people with a lot more experience than me and it didn’t really matter that they didn’t know my job.”
Anyone interested in attending Airman Leadership Academy in the future can talk to their leadership about submitting a nomination.