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Education is critical to the success of America's military; it starts in basic training, and continues throughout the career of all Air Force personnel. One of the foundations of Air Force education is known as Airman Leadership School (ALS), and at Malmstrom Air Force Base, class is now in session.

Senior Airman Branden Tanaka is hitting the books in his second week of class, and noted, "We have projects and readings to do, anywhere from 10 pages to 60 pages a night."

Tanaka and 29 of his fellow airmen are taking part in the six-week intensive course at Malmstrom, which is conducted several times throughout the year.

Technical Sergeant Jesse Cook, one of the ALS instructors, explained, "The average academic day starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at roughly 4:30 or 5:00 in the afternoon. And that's an hour break for lunch, academics all day long. These folks are put in a very rigorous college academic environment."

The program helps students transition from junior airmen into non-commissioned officers - enlisted members who hold a degree of authority, or supervisory positions.

SrA Tanaka explained, "It helps you develop as a better leader and...speaking to your subordinates. People you are going to deal with on a daily basis on the job."

The course focuses on several broad academic areas: the profession of arms, communication skills, and leadership.

Master Sergeant Kirk McManious, the ALS Commandant at Malmstrom, noted, "We talk about time management, stress management. A lot of the things they are not going to be used to as an airmen, they are always told what to do - now they are going to be in charge. So they have to figure out how to work their eight-hour a day schedule and then before an hour they have to deal with their airmen and any issues that come up."

Another important part of the class is the section on professional relationships; MSgt McManious explained, "They are coming out of the airmen realm and (now) they are the leaders of the airmen, and they can't hang out with them and do the things they used to do with them, so it's a hard step for a lot of them."

Each student receives 10 college semester hours for the course, as well as the ability to move up in rank as a staff sergeant.

For Tanaka, it's the opportunity to assume the role of a true leader that means the most; he said, "It's kind of challenging at times, we have a lot of work. But I find time management during my day to complete my work at home and pull through. I know I will pass in the end."