Aviano NCOA grads earn awards

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • Kisling NCO Academy
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Two Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing took home top honors during the Kisling NCO Academy graduation ceremony for Class 2010-1 held at the Ramstein Air Base, Germany officers club Oct. 29.

More than 100 students from U.S. Air Forces in Europe Command graduated from the only Air Force NCOA in USAFE located at Kapaun Air Station, Germany.

Tech. Sgt. Richard Thaggard, 31st Operations Support Squadron, took home the John L. Levitow Honor Graduate award for being the top professional military education graduate in his class. Tech. Sgt. Michael Page, 31st Maintenance Squadron, took home one of the 13 Distinguished Graduate awards handed out to students in the top ten percent of the class and is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player.

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.

The Kisling NCOA maintains a page on the Air Force Portal to ensure students can access information prior to arrival. The information includes items such as reporting procedures, uniform requirements, and curriculum and graduation photos. Once on the AF Portal, prospective students can click on the Bases-Orgs-Functional Areas, then scroll down and click on Org A-Z Listing, click K, then on the Kisling NCO Academy link. Problems with accessing the page using the AF Portal can be called in to DSN: 314-489-6502.