First Air Force Reservist graduates from Army's top enlisted school Published June 25, 2012 By Capt Candice Allen Readiness Management Group Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Lehane, an Individual Reservist, made history when he graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy June 22 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Last week Lehane, a security forces manager for the 673rd Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, became the first Air Force Reservist to graduate from the 10-month academy. "This is a great achievement and huge milestone for the command," said Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen Buckner, command chief master sergeant of Air Force Reserve Command. "It's courses like this academy that will prepare our enlisted leaders for increased challenges and responsibilities in joint environments." Maj. Gen. Carl M. Skinner, mobilization assistant to the commander of Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas, Col. Dawn Wallace, commander of the Readiness Management Group at Robins AFB, Ga., and Chief Master Sgt. James Pascarella, RMG superintendent, were on hand at the graduation to congratulate Lehane for the achievement. "This is a huge accomplishment for Chief Lehane, the Reserve Command, RMG and Enlisted Force Development," Pascarella said. "The joint experience he received is invaluable and enhances future opportunities for all Reservists to train with our sister services." Lehane was placed in a chief position working with the Army prior to attending the academy and will serve in that position for two years. "I remember sitting in the training block of the Air Force Reserve Chief Orientation Course and Chief Master Sgt. Ingrid Floyd, superintendent of the Enlisted Force Development, was briefing on different opportunities we had to participate in joint training," Lehane recalled. "She mentioned how the Air Force Reserve was sending someone to the Army Sergeants Major Academy and I raised my hand and said, 'That's me.'" The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy was founded in July 1972, and graduated its first students in 1973. "At first I had no idea what to expect, but I knew I was going to learn a lot," he said. The first four months were intense, but then the learning changed to applying the knowledge we received operationally, Lehane added. Being a Reservist aided the chief during his time at the academy. "We had a joint operation and homeland defense block, and my civilian experience helped to bridge that gap for my active-duty classmates by explaining how different agencies at all levels are interconnected," Lehane said. In addition to training the chief received, he was able to complete another not so small task - his bachelor's degree. He took six classes and received a degree in liberal arts and criminal justice. "That's another benefit [to the training] is the opportunity to work on your civilian education," Lehane said. Since 1973, USASMA has graduated more than 120,000 Soldiers from various NCO Education System courses. More than 90 percent of Sergeants Major Course students graduate with a college degree. Those interested in attending sister service academies or other developmental education, can apply to the Enlisted Development Education Board. Courses are available for those in grades E-6 through E-9. Applicants in grades E-8 and E-9 must obtain a Community College of the Air Force degree and complete the online Senior Enlisted Joint PME course. Additionally, E-9s must submit a Reserve Enlisted Development Plan to the E-9 Development Team. The board convenes annually around October. The board selects Reservists to attend sister service schools including the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, Marine Corps Staff NCO Academy Advanced Course and Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy.