F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- On, November 12, 2018 Senior Airman Zachary Steinke, Senior Airman Roman Frakes and Senior Airman Angelo Lewis, F.E. Warren Air Force Base Security Forces members, began the Army Basic Leadership Course as the first Air Force personnel to attend the course.
The Army Basic Leadership Course is intended to train soldiers in the fundamentals of small team leadership, and includes in-depth instruction in leadership, training and war fighting skills.
“The Basic Leadership Course is the first step soldiers take to become effective non-commissioned officers,” said Pfc. Tyler Lester, wheeled vehicle mechanic, stationed on Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. “When military members deploy it’s a joint environment, more often than not, so why not start the joint work early and send Soldiers and Airmen to the opposite’s leadership courses.”
As the first Air Force members to take the BLC, the three Airmen brought back positive reflections and hope to foster future Airmen attending the course.
“We are the first three Airmen and Defenders to attend this course, and hopefully with our positive feedback, we will not be the last to attend,” said Frakes. “I hope that my ALS class has as much comradery as my BLC class did, and that we learn as much as we did at BLC.”
In addition to having a positive experience, these Airmen ranked high in the class with Senior Airmen Steinke earning the course’s Commandant’s Award.
“I had the honor of earning the Commandant’s Award, which is a high honor to earn in the Army, and I earned it as the first Airman to ever do so,” said Steinke. “Taking the Commandant’s Award is hands down the greatest accomplishment of my military career, after earning my badge and beret.”
Their efforts were also recognized by their commander, who acknowledged their leadership capabilities.
“All three of these Defenders represented the best of the 90th Missile Wing, 90th Security Forces Group and the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron,” said Lt. Col. Anthony McCarty, 90th MSFS commander. “Not only did they strengthen their leadership skills at a pivotal point in the careers; they grew their understanding of the joint operating environment and their appreciation for what their brother and sister service members bring to the fight. They are what we hope are the first of many to attend this sister service course and many like it as the 90th SFG continues to hone our leaders and our lethality.”