News Search

ArticleS

First international student graduates Lackland's AF Recruiting School

  • Published
  • By James Coburn
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Enthusiastic Air Force NCOs have helped a Saudi air forces lieutenant become the first international student to graduate from the Air Force Recruiting School in its 54-year history at Lackland.

In fact, they helped so well that 1st Lt. Hamad Al-Shammari was presented the Distinguished Graduate award June 13 for having the highest academic scores (98 percent) of his 11-member graduating class, said Instructor Supervisor Master Sgt. Eric Soluri.

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Rowland, commandant of the Air Force Recruiting School, said Lieutenant Al-Shammari is "the first international student to actually meet all of our objectives to graduate" the seven-week course. "Others," he said, "have attended our course but basically were here to observe."

Lieutenant Al-Shammari, during an interview three weeks after starting the course, wanted to talk about his classmates and his teacher, Sergeant Soluri, "because they help me so much. Some of my classmates, they came to my room (in the international students quarters) and we studied together. And this helped me a lot, because they were so helpful with me."

"Or, sometimes I go to their rooms," he added. "If we did not study, we would not pass. We work hard, three to four times a week, and sometimes we spend four hours" in one session.

"He's phenomenal," Sergeant Soluri said of the 29-year-old lieutenant. "In his Day 13 Sales Dialog, where he actually simulates selling the Air Force to an applicant, he only missed one point - second highest in the whole school."  Which was then being attended by 75 students.

"He taught the 'Boy, am I enthusiastic!' cheer every hour," Sergeant Soluri said. "He does it in English, and taught the whole class how to do it in Arabic."

In Arabic, Lieutenant Al-Shammari said, the cheer is Shabab-Hal-Ana-Hamasi.  

Sergeant Soluri said the students have a gathering at the Gateway Club every other week to hone their communication skills and do skits.

"They do a 'Spark Off,' where they have to do their cheer. And out of all 75 students, he was Number one. He got a big trophy."

The class' student leader, Master Sgt. Brian Wahl, from Andrews AFB, Md., said Lieutenant Al-Shammari "is very intelligent. The class really enjoyed having him because he has a great sense of humor. He made things fun."

Sergeant Wahl, looking forward to being a recruiter in Bowling Green, Ky., said he studied a few times with Lieutenant Al-Shammari. "We kind of rotated our study groups."

Another classmate, Tech. Sgt. Larry Westmoreland, from Nellis AFB, Nev., said Lieutenant Al-Shammari is a "funny guy" who fit in with the class quickly. "There were no cultural barriers with him."

Sergeant Westmoreland, who'll be a recruiter in Las Vegas, said the lieutenant achieved among the highest grades in one of the Air Force's hardest courses despite English being his second language.

Lieutenant Al-Shammari received nine weeks of English language training at Lackland's Defense Language Institute English Language Center before beginning the recruiting course April 28.

The class of 10 Air Force NCOs and the lieutenant received their diplomas June 13 during a graduation luncheon at the Gateway Club.

In Saudi Arabia, the lieutenant said he will be recruiting both military and civilians.

"When we recruit civilians, they will do nothing except teach English at the Technical Studies Institute for the Royal Saudi Air Forces in Dhahran," Lieutenant Al-Shammari said.

He lives in a dormitory at Dhahran, a large air base, and TSI is on the base, similar to DLI at Lackland. He is single now, but plans to marry "I hope soon." 

Lieutenant Al-Shammari said recruiting is different in Saudi Arabia. "We put an announcement in the paper and receive a lot of applicants. And we choose the best for us."

It won't be just his decision, he said.

"We have our bosses - the general, and teachers and representatives of the company that work for the Air Force."

Lieutenant Al-Shammari said he doesn't know why he was chosen to attend the recruiting school here.

"Maybe because I'm one of the best officers," he said. "Maybe they trust me. I'm very proud of this point, because I'm the only Saudi who got this course, and I am the only international student (graduate) in the history of this school. I hope I'm not the last."