JB MDL Soldier first to graduate Kish ALS

Published Dec. 11, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A lone green uniform broke up the sea of Airmen wearing blue during the Kish Airmen Leadership School graduation ceremony Dec. 4, 2014, at Tommy B's Community Activities Center.

The green uniform belongs to Spc. Jasmine Dandridge, 77th Sustainment Brigade material manager and Athens, Ga., native, who was the first soldier to graduate the six-and-a-half week Kish ALS course.

"We want our students to embrace the joint environment we regularly work in and also experience while deployed," said Master Sgt. Natasha Williams, Kish ALS commandant and Dorchester County, Md., native. "Some of our students don't get that exposure in their jobs, so it's a benefit to the students. It even benefits our teachers by having them think on their feet to tailor the course to sister service members."

Dandridge was the first Soldier to get the unique experience of Kish ALS, learning leadership skills in an Air Force-centric curriculum to meet her formal education requirement to become an NCO. Most Soldiers attend an Army NCO Academy prior to joining the NCO ranks.

"I look at this as a unique schooling opportunity," said Dandridge. "I got to broaden my horizons and learn a lot about how the Air Force operates, leadership tools, peer evaluations, the Air Force's enlisted performance report and even how to write award citations Air Force Style. Most importantly, ALS taught me to pay attention to detail as the course is very technical."

ALS covers combat leadership, military professionalism, Airmen supervision, verbal and written communication and group dynamics. A majority of the instruction focuses around various Air Force rules and regulations.

"I think the more Soldiers who have the opportunity to participate, the better we can further integrate our sister services," said Dandridge.

Dandridges mother, Command Sgt. Maj. Angela E. Dandridge, U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Harrisburg, attended the graduation and provided perspective from a Soldier who developed in a previous generation and also as a mother.

"I advised her (Jasmine) to look at the course as a combat multiplier that will help her transition as more and more joint assignments become available to her and Soldiers in general," said Angela. "It's wonderful to see her take advantage of opportunities that I didn't have available to me in my early years as a NCO."

The Air Force leadership gave a special note to the audience about the importance of her participation and thanks to the Army leadership for lending one of their Soldiers for the opportunity.

"I'm very proud of her (Jasmine) as a command sergeant major," said Angela. "I'm also especially proud of her as a mother."