Airmen LEAD the way

  • Published
  • By Daisy Jones
  • 48th Mission Support Squadron Education Office
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Leaders Encouraging Airman Development Program is an on-going effort to give our best and brightest Airmen the opportunity to excel by offering them appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

The program, initiated by Ret. General Ronald Fogleman, Former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff in 1995, delegates authority to unit and wing commanders to nominate highly qualified Airmen to attend the Preparatory School with the intention of an Academy appointment to follow. 

Commanders have the opportunity to identify outstanding and deserving Airmen with officer potential for this commissioning program.

Fifty slots are reserved at the Prep School for Airmen who meet entry criteria. Airmen must be a U.S. citizen, or be able to obtain citizenship before entry into the Academy the following year, be unmarried, have no dependents, must not have passed their 22nd birthday by July 1 of the entry year, and be of high moral character. 

There are also 85 slots available for active duty Airmen for direct entry into the Air Force Academy. These individuals must be no older than 23 by July 1 of the entering year to the Academy.

Applicants should apply by filling out an Air Force Form 1786. This form requires the Airman's personal information, immediate squadron commander's and military personnel flight assignments coordination. The completed form must reach the Air Force Academy Admissions Office by Jan 31 of the entry year. 

Once an application has been processed, Airmen will be notified by the Admissions office concerning additional requirements such as the candidate fitness assessment, an extensive medical evaluation, completion of an interview with an Admissions Liaison Officer, completion of the writing sample, and attainment of qualifying scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test or the American College Test. Applicants should also be involved in the community and in athletic activities either in high school or after high school.

For more information, call the education center at 226-3851.