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LEAP - Language Enabled Airman Program

The Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP) is an Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) managed, volunteer program open to Active Duty officer and enlisted Airmen and in most career fields. LEAP deliberately develops language enabled, cross-cultural service members across the General Purpose Force (GPF) with working-level foreign language proficiency. With these skills, LEAP Scholars can better support the application of air and space power through strengthening partnerships, interoperability, and adversary understanding.

To become a LEAP Scholar, service members must demonstrate some level of proficiency in a foreign language, receive endorsement from their unit commander, and compete via a board process. Selection to LEAP is based on applicants’ academic history and job performance, existing language proficiency, potential to achieve higher levels of language proficiency, and Department of the Air Force language requirements.

Development Paths

AFCLC is creating Development Paths to encourage and inform Scholar development in languages. These guides provide recommendations on timelines, resources, and tools to improve proficiency and utilize skills. Languages are prioritized based on requirements and inventory gaps in the force. Paths are currently published for Japanese and French. Paths for additional languages are in production. AFCLC has also published a “LEAP: Preparing Future FAOs” guide which explains how active participation in LEAP may make officers more competitive for a career in international affairs.

Training Partnership Request (TPR)

The Air Force Culture and Language Center deliberately develops culturally competent Airmen and Guardians with working-level through professional foreign language proficiency to meet global requirements through the Language Enabled Airman Program, or LEAP. Understanding the languages and cultures of allies and partners strengthens US international relationships. AFCLC has built and supports the Training Partnership Request process, or TPR, that allows organizations to connect DoD and governmental requirements to LEAP scholars for exercises, mobile training team events, conferences, virtual events, and document translation projects as their funding permits.

This process has been codified through DAFI 36-4005. Partnering with AFCLC is simple. Follow the Training Partnership Request link below and fill out the TPR form in AFCLC’s Language Enabled Development Resource, or LEaDeR, obtaining access with your CAC card. When contacted by a potential sponsoring organization, AFCLC searches for LEAP scholars who match the requested language, rank and career field. AFCLC aligns qualified scholars with the TPR, and ensures they are prepared for the event. Since 2017, LEAP scholars have supported over 500 TPRs in more than 50 different languages. To request LEAP scholar support for your mission, click the link to fill out a Training Partnership Request below.

Training Partnership Request

Contact LEAP

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General Inquiries
Commercial Phone: 334-953-7729

 

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Need LEAP Support?
If you have questions about applying to Leap please contact our AFCLC LEAP Selection Team.
If you are currently a LEAP Scholar and have questions about your record contact AFCLC Language Division.
If you have questions about an upcoming LITE or eMentor contact AFCLC LEAP Admin Support.

 

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