Can anyone tell me about ALS and what to expect? I was also wondering if there were any materials I could study before going.

There is nothing you need to study before going, unless you want to brush up on enlisted responsibilities, EPR writing, and such. They will provide you with all of the study material you need.

If you're looking for something to do in preparation, I recommend you go over all of your uniforms so they look sharp and make sure you're hitting the gym/running track. You'll get the academics soon enough.

you will cover these 3 books ontop of your enlisted force structure (36-2618) and The Tongue and Quill. you will recieve a handout or be directed to your appropriate ALS that will tell you what to expect.


Volume One (Profession of Arms): is designed to provide senior airmen the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to succeed as supervisors in a military environment.

Volume Two (Leadership and Management): is divided into six units of instruction that focus on providing senior airmen with the philosophy, concepts, principles, and operating practices of effective leadership in the Air Force environment.

Volume Three (Communication Skills): is divided into three units of instruction that focus on providing senior airmen with the knowledge to be more effective communicators in both written and spoken communication.

Shame ALS isnt optional, lol, I hate school work :-)

ALS is a 6 week vacation for you USAF! No 12's sitting on a flightline.

I loved it when I went, got me out of my job and we were on 12's.

On a scale 1 to 10, how would you rate the difficulty level of ALS? I just finished a school not to long ago that I had to study everday and every weekend just to make sure I passed. Is ALS like that?

Do you have a PFE Study Guide? It is the same material. The level of difficulty depends on how smart you are. If you had difficulty passing the written test in BMT then you may have difficulty with ALS.

yeah, ALS is different for everyone. I had no problem with it, while the class leader scratched by barely.

quote:

Originally posted by 14304714:
Can anyone tell me about ALS and what to expect? I was also wondering if there were any materials I could study before going.

You might find some add'l info on ALS in the forum at AirForcePME.com

Here is some insider infor I have learned in my two in-residence PME courses. We had someone fail academically in both classes. Didn't have a passing average on tests or re-tests. After a retest they will interview you and ask you how you prepared for the tests. This is what they call a verbal examination. After that, if they feel you were trying, you will get passed. If they think you were jacking around, they will fail you. So basically, if you put out effort and they know it, you will always pass. In my case it was the class leader who failed both tests. She did graduate anyways.

AFI 36- 2301 PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION

4.2. Attendance . For active duty members, resident ALS completion is required to assume the rank of staff sergeant; resident NCOA completion is required to assume the rank of master sergeant; resident AFSNCOA or resident equivalent (as noted in paragraph 4.1.2.) completion is required to assume the rank of chief master sergeant.
…
For Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members, SNCOA completion is required for promotion to Senior Master Sergeant. Reserve and Guard members may complete PME promotion requirements by correspondence, residence, or any other approved method. AFI 36-2502, Promotion of Airmen, Table 4-1, contains PME requirements for Air Force Reserve enlisted personnel

4.5. Nonresident Programs. …
Note: Effective 1 July 1994, active duty personnel are no longer eligible to enroll in the nonresident ALS and NCOA.

AirForcePME.com is a new site that is very unpopulated. I looked around a bit and there was maybe twenty posts total for all schools in PME. It will be a great resource when it gets up.

Does anyone know how many credits towards a CCAF you get for ALS? I need 6 management credits and if its 6 or 7 which I have been told, but not confirmed, then by graduating from ALS I will also complete my CCAF. I already got a BA but like to have my ducks in a row.

quote:

Originally posted by PSUJOZZ:
Does anyone know how many credits towards a CCAF you get for ALS? I need 6 management credits and if its 6 or 7 which I have been told, but not confirmed, then by graduating from ALS I will also complete my CCAF. I already got a BA but like to have my ducks in a row.

you will have your CCAF after you complete ALS. ALS will take the form of priniciples of management and supervision which equals to 6 credits