Air Force Academy seeks 135 qualified Airmen in 2010 Published Sept. 24, 2009 By Master Sgt. Shauna Bauer Eglin AFB Career Assistance Advisor EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Leaders Encouraging Airman Development (LEAD) Program is an ongoing effort to give the best and brightest Airmen the opportunity to excel by offering them appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, retired Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, initiated the program in 1995, which delegates authority to unit and wing commanders to nominate highly qualified Airmen to attend the Prep School with the intention of Academy appointment to follow. Fifty slots are reserved for the Prep School for Airmen who meet entry criteria. Airmen must be a U.S. citizen or be able to obtain citizenship before entry into the Academy the following year, be unmarried and have no dependents, must not have passed their 22nd birthday by July 1 of the entry year (this cannot be waived as it is a stipulation of Title 10, United States Code), and be of high moral character. There are also 85 slots available for active-duty Airmen for direct entry into the Air Force Academy. These individuals must be no older than 23 on July 1 of the entering year to the Academy. The next application deadline is Jan. 31. Interested applicants can contact Team Eglin's Career Assistance Advisor at 882-2449 for detailed information and application instructions.