Aviano NCOs graduate Kisling NCOA, earn awards Published Dec. 31, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Three Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing took home top honors during the Kisling NCO Academy graduation ceremony for Class 2010-2 held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany Dec. 17. More than 130 students from U.S. Air Forces in Europe Command graduated from the only Air Force NCOA in USAFE located at Kapaun Air Station, Germany. The guest speaker for the graduation was Army Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Scott Jr., Landstuhl Regional Medical Center command sergeant major. Sgt. Maj. Scott presented the John L. Levitow Honor Graduate Award to Tech. Sgt. Tonia Gilson, 31st Medical Operations Squadron, for being the top professional military education graduate in her class. Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, U.S. Air Forces in Europe command chief master sergeant, presented the distinguished graduate award to Tech. Sgt. Julio Quinones Jr., 31st Force Support Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Patrick Paul, 31st Munitions Squadron, who were two of 13 students to receive the award for being in the top 10 percent of the class and is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. The following technical sergeants also graduated from Class 2010-2: Nikole Bacon, 704th Munitions Support Squadron, Ghedi Air Base, Italy James Buchanan, NATO Heavy Airlift Wing, Papa AB, Hungary Jeremy Clark, 31st Maintenance Squadron Montoria Davenport, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron Franklin Jez, 31st LRS Daniel Lee, 603rd Air Control Squadron Corey Lobdell, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Joseph Marzullo, 31st Security Forces Squadron Jeffery Merriman, 31st Medical Support Squadron Celie Pettway, 31st FSS Richard Riggins III, 731st MUNS Bolentha Robinson, 31st MXS Francisco Rodriguez, 731st MUNS Robert Williams, 31st MDOS Students spend more than 220 academic hours learning how to become better leaders during the six-week in-residence PME course. The NCOA prepares technical sergeants to be professional, war-fighting Airmen who can manage and lead their units in the employment of air, space and cyberspace power. Students learn and study curriculum in the areas of the profession of arms, leadership and communication to build the skills they need for their current rank and to prepare for future responsibilities. Nearly 1,000 technical sergeants attend the Kisling NCOA annually. --Kisling NCOA staff contributed to this article.