Levitow Recipients encourage Reserve Citizen Airmen attend in-residence ALS

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza, 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  “Go to in-residence (Airman Leadership School) if possible,” said Senior Airman Nichole Savard, 349th Aeromedical Staging Squadron unit deployment manager. “It is a worthwhile experience.”

“I highly recommend in-residence training, ALS was 15 out of 10,” said Senior Airman Catherine Lubbe, 55th Aerial Port Squadron special handling representative. “You’ll leave full of knowledge and tools that help mentor and lead others.”

At first glance the two statements read like paid advertisements for ALS, but they’re the sentiments of two Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 349th Air Mobility Wing who recently earned the John Levitow Award for their respective class. Savard graduated Aug. 22 and Lubbe graduated Oct. 24, 2018.

The John Levitow Award is named for Vietnam War loadmaster, Airman 1st Class John L. Levitow, the lowest ranking Airman to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism. The award is the highest honor presented to a graduate of Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education, including ALS, Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Senior NCO Academy.

Savard and Lubbe are both delayed entry program trainees, honor graduates, and distinguished graduates of their respective technical schools. Both award winners credit their support networks for their accomplishments.

Lubbe a Pittsburgh, California native said her faith in God, family and squadron all contributed to her success. And Savard a Tacoma, Washington native said her husband Tech. Sgt. Blake Savard, 99th Airlift Squadron, motivates her to do her best.
“Originally, in my mind I thought ALS would be like (Basic Military Training) and there would be yelling,” said Savard. “But when I got there, the course was what you make it. It’s fun if you make it fun.”

“The instructors were incredible, very personable and knowledgeable,” said Lubbe. “Attending ALS was amazing, because not only do you get to meet other people from across many different (Air Force Specialty Codes), but you get to experience different points of view.”

Savard and Lubbe both said the human interaction and constant communication with other students was the biggest benefit.

“We were talking constantly, and it helps so much when you say things out loud. You learn the material better when you teach each other, and grasp it much more easily.” said Lubbe. “It was really helpful to have different perspectives; and the opportunity to bounce ideas off of one another was priceless.”

“Having the hands-on experience is greatly beneficial to learning different leadership styles,” said Savard. “It was fun meeting people from other career fields, like ‘port dawgs’ and security forces members and learning what their jobs entail.”
Both Airmen agreed that attending ALS in-residence gave them the opportunity to make friends outside of their respective work centers.

“I did not know I was going to network, but I did a lot of that and made a ton of connections,” said Savard. “I want to attend all the PMEs after this experience.”

“If you get the chance to carve out five weeks, just dive in and take the course,” said Lubbe. “You make friends for life and make all kinds of connections, something that you couldn’t get correspondence. If you have the opportunity to attend in-residence, go!