JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Graduates from the Joint Base Andrews Chief Master Sergeant Donald L. Harlow Airman Leadership School had the unique opportunity to listen to the Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright as the keynote speaker during their graduation ceremony at The Club on Joint Base Andrews, Md. May 11.
Wright, the 18th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, spoke about the importance of first-line supervision and the positive impact it has on the success or failure of the Airmen they supervise.
“Airmen will doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do,” Wright said. “That’s your first responsibility as a young supervisor; be a good role model.”
ALS is a five-week professional military education program that trains senior airmen and newly selected staff sergeants in order to prepare them for accession into the NCO corps.
“It’s overwhelming, and at the same time, kind of cool to be reaching this milestone in my career,” said Senior Airman Hunter Eckwall, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal apprentice. “ALS was difficult at times but it was good to see the camaraderie and networking you get from classmates in different career fields.”
Wright went on to describe how supervisors must exemplify standards of work ethic, character, fitness and resiliency. He also stressed the importance of supervisors establishing trusting bonds with their Airmen through communication.
“You must be what your Airmen require to help them succeed,” Wright said. “The parents of these young men and women of the United States Air Force, who will be released to you as of tonight, their parents depend on you. They’ll hold me accountable and they’ll hold Col. E. John Teichert, 11th Wing and JBA commander, accountable. But when they pass them off at the recruiting station, who they really depend on to take care of them is you, their first-line supervisors.”