News

Reservist earns highest distinction during ALS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn McCullough
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash --  After accepting an unexpected, last minute opening to Airman Leadership School, a 446th Airlift Wing Reservist packed his bags and found himself graduating six weeks later with the school's highest honor - the John Levitow Award.

Senior Airman Kurtis Randall, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health services manager, achieved the highest overall standing from a combination of academic scores, performance evaluation, and leadership qualities. It is the highest honor awarded to ALS graduates.

"Randall brings knowledge of his career field, new ideas, timeliness, proficiency, and reliability to our team at the 446th AMDS," said Master Sgt. Lawrence Silk, 446th AMDS orderly room NCOIC and Randall's supervisor. "Randall is an Airman who encompasses all aspects of our core values and truly believes in doing the right thing at all times. I am not surprised by his ability to achieve this accomplishment."

"I went into it with a positive attitude," Randall said. "I wanted to do my very best in that class. I wanted to get at least a distinguished graduate, which is top academically in the class. Winning the Levitow award completely blindsided me."

Randall said he did not participate in a lot of high visibility activities, but he believes he earned his award because he was always willing to help other Airmen.

"One of my hobbies is teaching and tutoring," Randall said. "I've been in college a long time, and there were a lot of people in my class who were fresh out of high school. They didn't know how to study, they didn't know how to write proper papers, and they didn't know how to approach material. I have a lot of experience with that so I was able to sit down with anyone who came to me for help."

In addition, Randall said he has gained a lot from his training and is ready to lead and develop an Airman. ALS taught him that the most important thing an NCO can do is take care of his Airmen. The school gave him the knowledge and tools required to do so.

"I'm excited about it. I want to jump right in," Randall said. "I haven't been assigned an Airman yet but I look forward to it. I like teaching people and I like developing people. If you take care of and develop your Airmen and make them better then, by proxy, the mission gets done more efficiently and more capably."

"I feel that Randall will continue with excellence as an NCO," said Silk. "He has already stated the desire to have a troop of his own to supervise and help mentor. I have no doubt of his leadership skills as he has already shown his capability to do so."

"If I'm lucky, I'll get a difficult Airman," Randall said. "If I'm fortunate, but not necessarily lucky, then I'll get an outstanding Airman."