Applications due soon for LEAD program Published July 18, 2012 By Maj. Christopher Mulder 52nd Operations Group SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The U. S. Air Force Academy is looking for highly motivated Airman to apply for the class of 2017 as part of the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program. The LEAD program, initiated by former Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Ronald R. Fogelman in 1995, gives unit and wing commanders the opportunity to nominate top performing Airmen with high moral character, a strong academic background and top fitness scores to attend USAFA and get commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation. Spangdahlem's own Airman 1st Class Evan Seeley, 606th Air Control Squadron, was accepted as part of the LEAD program during the last admissions cycle. He was selected from more than 400 Airmen applicants and is currently on his way to Colorado Springs, Colo., to start training at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. This year, USAFA is offering Airmen the opportunity to visit the Air Force Academy as part of their Diversity Visitation Program. Academy officials will bring two groups of approximately 25 Airmen to Colorado Springs for four days to experience daily life and talk with prior enlisted cadets about their experience while at the Academy. Dates for this program are Sept. 11-14 and Sept. 27-30, 2012. The deadline to apply for the DVP is Aug. 10. To apply, Airmen must complete the online pre-candidate questionnaire at http://www.academyadmissions.com, have a letter of endorsement and Air Force Form 1786 signed by their squadron commander and military personnel flight, and submit their official high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. All information must be sent to the Academy's Office of Admissions no later than Aug. 10. Applicants for the DVP and for the class of 2017 cannot be past their 23rd birthday by July 1, 2013. Airmen cannot have dependents and must be a U.S. citizen by the time they enter the Academy. For more information or to fill out an application, visit http://www.academyadmissions.com. The two links on the right side of the page are specifically for Airmen. The primary admissions liaison officer for this area, Maj. Jennifer Mulder, is also available to answer any questions on the DVP or admissions process. She can be reached at jennifer.mulder@ramstein.af.mil. (Edited to update the http://www.academyadmissions.com link.)