Crow earns John L. Levitow

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ericka A. Woolever
  • 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing is home to some of the finest Airmen in today's Air Force; a fact that was recently demonstrated by Senior Airman Anthony Karam, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron avionics technician, who earned the John L. Levitow award from Airman Leadership School (ALS) Class 23-D. 
 
The John L. Levitow Award is the highest award for enlisted Professional Military Education in the Air Force and is presented to the student who demonstrates the most outstanding leadership and scholastic achievement throughout ALS. It is named in honor of John Lee Levitow who was the first enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force to receive the Medal of Honor.
 
Only one student receives this award in each class, which classes can vary in size, depending on base. Airman Leadership Class 23-D had a total of 38 students.
 
During ALS Airmen spend a total of 24 academic days preparing to be adaptable for current and future leadership and management challenges in order to operate think, act, and respond in complex and ambiguous environments through the application of four outcome-based objectives: Culture, Mission, Leadership and Problem Solving.
 
“Throughout ALS we did a lot of scenarios and the ones that stood out most were about SAFE Talk; how to deal with suicide and suicidal thoughts in others,” said Karam. “With the suicide rate increasing every year, it felt important to know and be prepared for our generation of leaders.”
 
Airman Leadership School is designed to be an entry level leadership enhancement course to prepare Senior Airmen for positions of greater responsibility, while also gaining a broader understanding of the military profession and their role within the Air Force.
 
“Airman Leadership School provides the foundation for leadership skills that are vital to the health and vitality of a unit,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt, James D. Culps, 16th EWS senior enlisted advisor. “These graduates will be frontline supervisors who will not only lead us in solving problems in their work centers, but they are also charged with developing the next generation of Airmen to follow. Airman Leadership School is the capstone course required for future noncommissioned officers. It prepares members to lead, adapt, and to work as a cohesive team embodying the core values of the United States Air Force.”
 
Karam explained how his classmates would be more likely to stay in the military if he was their supervisor.
 
“If they think I'm ready, then I am confident and prepared,” said Karam.

Airmen graduate ALS as professional war-fighting Airmen who can supervise and lead Air Force work teams to support the employment of airpower.
 
“If there is one thing, I could say to an Airman starting their first day of ALS, it would be to remind them that it is first and foremost a school,” said Karam. “You aren't going to know everything or be good at everything right away. Ask lots of questions, make good friends, practice your speeches, read the rubric and do exactly what it says, then you will be able to learn so much for your future.”