NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Noncommissioned Officer Academy is a six-week course designed to build upon leadership skills needed as Airmen progress through the junior NCO ranks.

It also prepares NCOs for positions of greater responsibility as supervisors, unit managers and combat leaders.

The most recent graduating class held at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, had 117 NCOs, four of whom were award recipients stationed at Nellis and Creech Air Force bases.

Tech. Sgt. William Vaughn, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, received the Academic Achievement Award.

Tech. Sgt. Manuel Quinones-Figueroa, 432nd Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron, Creech AFB, Nevada, Tech. Sgt. Jason Lane, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Campbell, 57th Maintenance Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada all received distinguished graduate awards.

The four were among 13 Airmen who distinguished themselves based on their academic performance, leadership and dedication to their class.