The Airman Leadership School (ALS) is the first level of Professional Military Education (PME) our enlisted Airmen experience. It is designed to be an entry level leadership enhancement course to prepare Senior Airmen for positions of greater responsibility by strengthening their ability to lead, follow, and manage while also gaining a broader understanding of the military profession and their role within the Air and Space Forces. Completion is required to assume the grade of Staff Sergeant. There are 68 Active Duty ALS schools and 1 Air National Guard (ANG) school globally that is managed by their respective Major Command (MAJCOM). The Barnes Center provides program management guidance and comprehensive curriculum materials to each of these schools.
The Barnes Center fields a voluntary self-study version of the ALS program to facilitate EPME completion for ANG and Air Force Reserves Airmen for whom resident attendance is not possible.
View the Course Syllabus.
The Airman Leadership School (ALS) is a resident Community College Air Force (CCAF)-affiliated program that consists of 192 curriculum hours. The curriculum prepares Senior Airmen and Guardians to be professional, war-fighting Airmen and Space Professionals who can supervise and lead work teams as an all-domain joint warfighting professional to support the employment of an Air and Space power.
Specifically, Airman Leadership School’s prepare Airmen, Guardians and Staff Sergeants to be adaptable for current and future leadership and management challenges in order to operate [think/act/respond] in complex and ambiguous environments through the application of four outcome-based objectives: Culture, Mission, Leadership and Problem Solving.
Outcomes-Based Military Education. ALS curriculum prepares our Airmen and Guardians to:
- Illustrate how to lead and supervise junior enlisted members.
- Demonstrate appropriate oral and written communication appropriate for supervising junior enlisted members.
- Illustrate how to enhance the military profession appropriate for supervising junior enlisted members.
Faculty. The ALS faculty members are required to have an associate degree (or fall within one year of completion) and complete the Enlisted Professional Military Education Instructor Course (EPMEIC) before assignment to their school. Within the first year of teaching, faculty must complete a 120-hour internship at their respective school.
Duration. The ALS program is delivered in 24 academic days.