Photo By Senior Airman Sydney Franklin | U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing perform a simulated casualty...... read more read more
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In a first for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Airmen Airman Leadership School (ALS) students at Spangdahlem Air Base stepped out of the classroom and into the field for a hands-on leadership training event, Nov. 6, 2025.
The day-long, immersive field training exercise (FTX) pushed aspiring noncommissioned officers (NCOs) to apply their learned skills in a simulated deployed environment, demanding they leverage teamwork, communication, and critical decision-making skills under pressure.
“This is the first time a cadre team in USAFE has taken the initiative to build and execute an ALS FTX like this,” said Tech. Sgt. Samuel Flannery, 52nd Force Support Squadron ALS instructor. “We wanted to move beyond lectures and give these students the opportunity to lead under real pressure -- and they did.”
Throughout the day, participants tackled a series of field-based scenarios designed to mirror the complexities of a deployed setting. These included fire team movements, tactical communications exercises, casualty evacuation drills, and the construction of defensive positions.
The rigorous tasks were meticulously crafted to reinforce essential field skills like adaptability, teamwork, and quick-thinking decision-making – cornerstones of the Air Force's "Mission Ready Airman" concept and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) framework, according to school officials.
Senior Airman Yanni Juarez, a weapons load crew member with the 480th Fighter Generation Squadron, emphasized the transformative nature of the exercise.
“I had to make decisions for my team,” Juarez said. “That’s not something I normally do in my job, but it’s something I’ll have to do as an NCO.”
The exercise required students to operate outside their primary specialties, leading teams composed of members from diverse career fields. Trainers designed each scenario to simulate the pressures of real-world operations, incorporating time constraints and physical stressors to evaluate students’ ability to adapt and lead effectively in dynamic environments.
The success of the exercise hinged on the collaborative efforts of multiple units, ALS cadre said. Subject matter experts from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron, 52nd Civil Engineering Squadron, 52nd Communications Squadron, and the 52nd Fighter Wing Safety Office provided crucial support and equipment, ensuring realistic and logistically sound training conditions. Security Forces personnel played a particularly vital role, serving as opposing forces and creating an immersive and challenging environment that tested the students' mettle.
“This exercise reflects the Air Force’s focus on developing adaptable, multi-capable Airmen who can lead in any environment,” Flannery said. “We’re proud to set the standard in USAFE and look forward to building on this success in future classes.”
Serving as a capstone event for the ALS class, the FTX bridged the gap between academic theory and practical application.
By confronting real-world leadership challenges head-on, the students gained invaluable experience, better preparing them for the responsibilities of frontline supervision in the ever-evolving operational landscape of the modern Air Force.
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2025 04:23 |
| Story ID: | 551296 |
| Location: | SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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