Molding new NCOs

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brittany Liddon
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Every day is different in the Professional Military Education world," said Staff Sgt. Andrea Berggren, 6th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School instructor. "You can never quite be prepared for all that may come your way. That's why I love it."

On average, 168 students go through ALS in a year. Every couple of months, a new class of 24 students walk through the doors of the ALS building, not sure what to expect, and are greeted by three instructors and the school's commandant.

One of those instructors is Staff Sgt. Berggren, who is not only an Airman, but an ALS instructor, a wife, a student, and a mother of two young boys.

"I have an extremely supportive network at home," explained Berggren. "Yes, the hours are long and I do have to take work home with me; however, my family understands that. I have a schedule and a routine that keeps me on track of being able to juggle all of life's challenges."

Berggren, along with the other instructors, Tech. Sgts. Dustin Maglinti and Jolene Storey, and the commandant, Master Sgt. Lonnie Carter, work together to conduct physical fitness, evaluate and teach future supervisors of the United States Air Force.

"The most rewarding part, to me, is watching the Airmen enjoy what they are learning," said Berggren. "I love seeing the students have great conversations about the lesson concepts."

With a job that consists of 192 curricular hours, with lessons that range from Profession of Arms to Supervisor Communication, and watching students rotate in and out every couple months, it can be daunting and stressful.

"Stress is normal," explained Berggren. "I use some techniques that we teach in stress management, in my personal life too. I feel that there will always be obstacles that pop up in the day that were not planned; so I handle them with a smile."