Photo By Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Bridger, 97th Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of training, debriefs the performance of students of Airmen Leadership School (ALS) Class 26 Alpha on Dec. 12, 2025 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Serving as a team capstone event for the ALS class, the field training exercise bridged the gap between academic theory and practical application. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell) see less
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First-of-its-Kind FTX Puts Altus Airmen's Leadership Skills to the Test
As part of the capstone for Airman Leadership School, Class 26 Alpha students were immersed in a day-long field training exercise that bridged the gap between academic theory and practical application. This new initiative, the first of its kind in the local ALS curriculum, is designed to forge agile, front-line supervisors by training them in communication, teamwork, and decision-making within degraded, high-stress environments.
Throughout the day, participants were pushed to their limits, tackling a series of field-based scenarios that mirrored the complexities of a deployed setting. Operating outside their primary specialties, the Airmen led assorted teams through tactical challenges that included radio communication, care under fire, buddy carries, and shoot-move-communicate techniques. The rigorous tasks were meticulously crafted to reinforce essential field skills like adaptability and quick-thinking.
By confronting these real-world leadership challenges head-on, the students gained invaluable experience. The exercise pushed them to apply their learned skills under pressure, better preparing them for the responsibilities of frontline supervision in the ever-evolving operational landscape of the modern Air Force.
