Air Force Culture and Language Center announces upcoming LEAP selection board

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  • Air Force Culture and Language Center
Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. --  The Air Force Culture and Language Center would like to announce the next Language Enabled Airman Program selection board. Application criteria will be released on July 5, 2011, and application packets will be accepted through Sept. 5. The selection board is scheduled to take place at Maxwell Air Force Base on Sept. 14 and 15. Board members will consist of representatives from across the Air Force language community, including AF/A1, AF/A2, AF ISR Agency, AFSOC, USAFA, Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions & Citizen Development, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and AFCLC. The AFCLC will notify applicants of their acceptance no later than Oct. 17.

LEAP aims to create a cadre of general purpose force Airmen with the necessary language, region and cultural capabilities to influence mission success and meet current and future requirements. Throughout the career-long program, participants are provided structured language sustainment and enhancement opportunities in an effort to develop them as foreign language-enabled professionals and leaders. Participants have an opportunity to attain the highest sustainable foreign language proficiency during intensive training events and maximize utilization within their career fields via language-related assignments and taskings.

"Most candidates selected during the September board can expect to experience their first language intensive training event during the summer of 2012," said Lt. Col. Brian Smith, the deputy director of the Language Department at Maxwell AFB.

The selection board is open to active duty officers (O-3 and under) as well as officer candidates. Applicants must possess an ILR proficiency level of 2/2 or better in a strategic language and demonstrate an interest in furthering the Air Force mission. Majors and above are encouraged to apply if they possess an ILR proficiency level of 3/3 or above.

LEAP background information and frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.culture.af.edu/leap/. Please direct additional questions to Ms. Sheila Miltersen in the Language Department, via e-mail at afclc.language@maxwell.af.mil or (334) 953-8472 or (334) 953-8473.