April 7, 2017
Public Affairs, Volume 64, Number 14
Edwards schools get $63.5 million from Defense Dept.
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
The future just got brighter for Edwards Air Force Base schools thanks to a $63.5 million Department of Defense grant that was approved last week. The grant will go to the Muroc Joint Unified School District, which oversees schools at Edwards. The amount is for $63,583,420 and will fund the first of two phases to modernize or replace school facilities on base. “Our military families sacrifice a great deal to support our nation, so our school-age children and their educational facilities are one of my top family priorities,” said Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander. “This investment in our elementary school is a result of a great deal of hard work between the Muroc Joint Unified School District, congress, the Air Force and the Department of Defense.” School district officials say they were informed that the director of the Office of Economic Adjustment signed the grant award and a formal letter notifying the district of the award has been received.
Irving L. Branch Elementary on Edwards was built in the 1950s. (U.S. Air Force photo)
“The next step in the process is a kickoff meeting where OEA briefs the distinct on the requirements of the grant, the rules and laws that apply to the grant and general questions,” said Trevor Walker, MJUSD chief business officer. “With the grant being official, we will then be able to begin submitting reimbursement requests to OEA to reimburse us for funds we have already expended moving the projects forward.” Both Desert Junior-Senior High School and Irving L. Branch Elementary were built in the 1950s and Bailey Elementary
Leaky roofs and water damaged ceilings show the age of Branch Elementary School. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Ball)
has been closed for several years. Walker explained that the district already has a plan for what it wants to do with the aging schools. “The vision for the facility project will be to move the campuses closer along a centrally shared outdoor amphitheater; See Schools, page 2
Airman Leadership School graduates largest class to date
Reserve Airmen and offer slots to sister services and civilians. ALS is a five-week United States Air Force program designed to develop Airmen into effective frontline supervisors. It is the first professional military education that enlisted Air Force members encounter. ALS focuses on building leadership and team development abilities as well as effective communication. Congratulations to all the graduates who took another step forward in their careers! Class 17C Graduates
Airman Leadership School Class 17C poses for a group photo in front of a B-1B Lancer March 14. The class is the largest ALS class to ever graduate from Edwards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong)
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
The 412th Force Support Squadron’s Airman Leadership School graduated 45 senior airmen, one U.S. Marine lance corporal and two civilians March 23 at Club Muroc. Master Sgt. Daniel Magas, ALS commandant, said Class 17C is the largest class to graduate after Edwards ALS expanded its class size to accommodate Air National Guard and
Bonnie Mcgee, Air Force Test Center (Civilian) Carl Schlosser, VMX-22, (U.S. Marine Corps) Kristina Lacoste, American Forces Network Broadcast Center Andrew Carroll, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Timothy Hayes, 412th AMXS Jesse Bleickhart, 412th AMXS Micheal Meyer, 412th AMXS Tyler Broadfoot, 412th AMXS Michael Siacunco, 9th Operations Group (Beale Air Force Base, California) William Fox, 9th OG Devin Lamere, 9th OG Luke Nowland, 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Vipul Chandra, 912th AMXS Deshawn Walden, 412th Test Wing Donnie Brown, Jr., 812th Civil Engineer Squadron
See ALS, page 3