64 ARS Airmen complete ALS Published Nov. 25, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Mark Wyatt 157th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Three members of the 64th Air Refueling Squadron completed Airman Leadership School during a graduation ceremony here Nov. 21. Senior Airmen Jessica N. Cervantes, Shaun M. Conners and Loraine V. Ermel, each with the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, along with seven other Airmen and two members of the U.S. Coast Guard finished the five-week class. ALS, the first step in professional military education for enlisted members, is an Air Force PME class designed to develop junior enlisted members into effective front-line supervisors. The curriculum focuses on developing leadership abilities as well as effective communication. Much of the instruction focuses around various Air Force rules and regulations. Cervantes was presented with the Academic Award for achieving the highest academic score based on all summative objectives. . Other awards presented to students are the John Levitow Award for the student who achieves the highest overall standing from a combination of academic scores, performance evaluation and leadership qualities. Curriculum consists of five blocks of instruction that are designed to train senior airman to be effective leaders and supervisors. Blocks of instruction include: Supervisor of Airman, Supervisory Communication, Expeditionary Airman, Professional Airman and Course Foundation. Eligibility to attend the school is 48 months' time in service or those with a promotion line number for staff sergeant. Members who attend must have a current passing fitness score to attend and at least six months retainability from the projected class graduation date.