LEAP Accepting Applications for Spring Selection Board Published Feb. 26, 2013 By Jodi L. Jordan Air Force Culture and Language Center MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- For the first time, the Language Enabled Airman Program will hold a selection board solely for active duty enlisted Airmen from across the Air Force in 2013. LEAP is a career-spanning program to identify, develop and sustain Airmen's foreign language and cultural capabilities. Managed by the Air Force Culture and Language Center, the program seeks to develop cross-culturally competent leaders across all Air Force General Purpose Force specialties with working level foreign language proficiency - leaders who can meet Air Force global mission requirements, said Mr. Zachary Hickman, the AFCLC's Language Division chief. The program began in 2009, and initially was only open to Air Force Academy and Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. As the program grew, active duty officers and small numbers of enlisted Airmen from a limited number of career fields were allowed to apply. The spring 2013 selection board represents the first time there will be an entire selection board for enlisted active duty Airmen only. "One of the Air Force's greatest strengths is the diversity of its people," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody. "LEAP gives Airmen an opportunity to put their language abilities to work for our Air Force. There are many enlisted Airmen in the Air Force today who can bring their skills to the program, and I'm glad they now have the opportunity to apply." LEAP is designed for those active duty Airmen who already have some existing language capability and a track record for pursuing proficiency in a language. The program targets early-career Airmen most likely to take fullest advantage of language learning, maintenance and assignments. The application period for the spring 2013 selection board opens Feb. 19 and closes April 15. Detailed application instructions and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Air Force Culture and Language Center's website at www.culture.af.mil/LEAP.