Air Force gives Airmen opportunity to LEAD

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tabitha M. Lee
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development Program is an ongoing Air Force effort to provide its brightest Airmen the opportunity to excel.

"The Air Force offers through the LEAD program, 85 direct appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and 50 slots to the USAFA Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, Colo." said Tarrell Matthews, 100th Force Support Squadron Education Center services specialist.

The USAFA Preparatory school is designed to prepare students for entry into the academy. The program integrates academic preparation, military training and athletic conditioning to give cadet candidates the skills and character necessary to be successful at the academy.

"Airmen remain on active duty while in the 10-month prep school, and have the option to disenroll and return to their career field, if they so choose," said Matthews.

However, for those Airmen who remain in the program and attend the Academy, they will receive a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force upon graduation.

"The USAFA is a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to provide cadets the knowledge, character and motivation to serve as Air Force career officers," said Matthews. "But it's not just academic, the USAFA develops not just the mind but also the body by requiring all cadets to participate in athletics."

According to the USAFA website, their mission is to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the U.S. Air Force in service to our nation. The website also says that the USAFA is the nation's premier institution for developing leaders of character.

There are several eligibility requirements associated with this program.
"Active duty members must be U.S. citizens with no dependents, and no older than 22 before July 1 of the year they will enter the USAFA Prep school, or 23 for the academy," said Matthews.

Other eligibility restrictions include a high moral character and one year of retainability upon entering the school.

For more information, visit the USAFA's admissions website at www.academyadmissions.com or contact the RAF Mildenhall Education Office at DSN 238-2350.