ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Rogers, 8th Force Support Squadron first sergeant, speaks with Class 23-B during Airmen Leadership School mentorship time at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 29, 2023. Four members of the Republic of Korea Air Force took part in the class, a first at Kunsan AB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

From left, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sean Nacino, Republic of Korea Air Force Master Sgt. Yeonsu Kim and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cambria Schuler, ALS students, practice public speaking during Airman Leadership School at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 29, 2023. ALS is the first level of enlisted professional military education in the U.S. Air Force which is used to prepare junior Airmen for increased responsibility and supervisory roles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe, Pacific Air Forces command chief, speaks to U.S and Republic of Korea Airmen attending Airman Leadership School at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 13, 2023. Wolfe serves as an advisor to Gen. Ken Wilsbach, PACAF commander, on matters involving readiness, training, professional development, and effective utilization of manning resources while overseeing approximately 48,000 Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

Airman Leadership School Class 23-B sings the U.S. Air Force song during their graduation ceremony at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, July 5, 2023. This ALS iteration was the first time that Korean Airmen participated in the course alongside American Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

Senior Airman Adam Hairston, center left, Airman Leadership School student, and Chief Master Sgt. Josh Vanderbeck, center right, 35th Fighter Generation Squadron senior enlisted leader, meet at the net during a volleyball match at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 29, 2023. It is tradition for chief master sergeants, first sergeants and ALS students to bond over a game of volleyball as the course comes to an end. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick)

ROKAF joins Kunsan ALS for the first time

Published July 7, 2023
By Staff Sgt. Samuel Earick
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- --

Sixteen U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Airmen graduated from Airman Leadership School July 6.

This graduation celebrated not only the accomplishments of the students but also the first time ROK Air Force Airmen have participated in this professional military education course alongside U.S. Airmen at Kunsan AB.

ALS is the first level of enlisted PME in the U.S. Air Force used to prepare junior Airmen for increased responsibility and supervisory roles.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Emeliana Punahele-Yau, 51st Fighter Wing Airmen Leadership School instructor, explained how having military members from both countries join in ALS is important for future collaborations between the ROK and U.S. air forces..

“By understanding how diverse we are and flipping the perception to not view that as a weakness but as our ultimate strengths, helps strengthen our foundation of our relationship,” said Punahele-Yau. “The foundation that we are creating and strengthening is how we create a super strong joint force and once we have that connection and foundation we can go out and win any fight.”

During the course, Airmen not only worked together to accomplish training requirements but also realized how working together was a great opportunity to learn from one another and build long-lasting relationships. Republic of Korea Air Force Master Sgt. Sungwook Ok shared his thoughts on the course.

“Attending this course has been a fantastic experience, seeing how the U.S. Air Force deals with their service members, even those that are deployed or stationed in another country,” said Ok. “It can be hard being away from your family and it gets stressful, but ALS makes you feel as one, and we work as a team so in that vein, ALS made me feel like part of them.”

The completion of the course not only signified the readiness of these leaders, but also represents the commitment our forces have toward fortifying the ROK-U.S. alliance.