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Reservist earns distinguished graduate

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Senior Airman Juliana Avila, the only Reserve student in a group of nearly 40 Airmen in class C-11 at the Kish Airman Leadership School here, earned one of two distinguished graduate awards, March 30 during graduation ceremonies.

"That's not an easy feat and I'm proud of her" said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Ferraro, 514th Air Mobility Wing command chief master sergeant. "It's very competitive and the curriculum is very demanding for a six-week course."

"The course was challenging but also fun," said Avila. "It was a great learning experience, and I came back to my unit with useful tools."

In ALS, the young reservist completed 192 curriculum hours of study in 24 academic days. The course focused on increasing the student's communication and leadership skills, broadening their military studies, amplifying principles and concepts and instilling a deeper commitment to the profession of arms.

Having graduated at the top of her class, Avila started off strong in her first professional military education course, and Chief Ferraro said he's looking for other eligible Airmen to follow suit.

PME courses are designed to help Airmen obtain the management and leadership skills they need to be successful in each level of their careers. Enlisted Airmen have four PME courses they are required to complete in order to earn additional rank. ALS is needed for promotion to staff sergeant; the noncommissioned officer academy is required for promotion to master sergeant; senior NCO academy is a prerequisite for promotion to senior master sergeant and the chief master sergeant leadership course is needed for promotion to chief.

"To attend a PME course, the first step after getting approval from your supervisor, is to contact your unit training manager, said Master Sgt. Sal Valeo, acting chief of Wing Education and Training.

The UTM will facilitate in completing an in-residence PME school package which includes documentation such as fitness test scores, an application for PME in-residence, a Reserve school tour request form and an individual record review. Once completed the package is forwarded to the 514th Wing Education and Training Office for coordination with leadership and 22nd Air Force.

Although UTMs can give an idea of when classes are being held, in-residence courses are scheduled based on projected grade, date of rank and availability.