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ALS students give back

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jensen Stidham
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Students from the Senior Master Sgt. David B. Reid Airman Leadership School, Class 15-1, volunteered at the Enlisted Spouses Club Winter Wonderland Bazaar at the Community Center here, Nov. 8.

During the five-week course, ALS students participate in at least one community service project.

"Volunteering is a part of ALS because we are teaching them how to be future leaders," said Master Sgt. Lindsey Wolf, 20th Force Support Squadron ALS commandant. "Part of being a future leader is having that whole-Airman concept. The responsibility of a leader is not just to go to work and go home every day, you need to be benefiting your base community as well as the local community that you reside in."

The bazaar was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but it was not until after the event ended when the 22 ALS students got to work.

"Once the bazaar ended we came in and helped clean everything up," said Senior Airman Everhette Glenn, 20th Security Forces Squadron patrolman. "We took down all the tables, put away chairs, and helped people clean up their crafts and take them to their cars."

Although students worked together to clean up the bazaar, some had the opportunity to improve themselves.

"This project helped some of my classmates break out of their shell and work on interpersonal communication," said Glenn. "Some had the opportunity to delegate tasks to other Airmen and that's exactly what we have to learn before becoming an NCO."

Just as the Airmen gained knowledge and experience from the event, several people who participated at the bazaar were happy for the help.

"One lady told me it would have taken them hours to get all of this cleaned up if it wasn't for us," said Glenn.

Though volunteer projects for ALS students may only be a small portion of the course, it is a building block to teach future NCO's to become better leaders of tomorrows Air Force.