MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The Air Force offers assistance to officers interested in earning a designation as judge advocates through the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program. Applications are being accepted Jan. 1- March 1, 2012.

Interested officers are encouraged to compete as the number of FLEP and ELP applicants selected in any academic year is determined based on the needs of the Air Force.

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program for all active-duty Air Force commissioned officers. Participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. FLEP applicants must have between two and six years active-duty service (enlisted or commissioned) and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the day they begin law school.

The FLEP is subject to tuition limitations, and positions may be limited due to overall funding availability. The Air Force Institute of Technology establishes the tuition limit. The 2011 academic year was set at approximately $16,000 per year, but this amount is subject to change.

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers. ELP participants do not receive pay and allowances, but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes.

ELP applicants must have between two and ten years active-duty service and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school.

Applications for FY12 FLEP and ELP will be accepted from Jan. 1- March 1, 2012.
Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association accredited law school.

Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States, or federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates.
To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must complete all application forms, apply to at least one ABA accredited law school,(acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP), receive their Law School Admissions Test results, and interview with a Staff Judge Advocate by Feb. 15, 2012.

Officers must also provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Applications meet a selection board in early March, and selections are made based on a review of the application package.

The total number of applicants selected for any academic year is based on the needs of the Air Force. Refer to AFI 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, for information on the FLEP and ELP.

For more information and application materials, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, contact 1st Lt. Jerred Kelly at the Gunfighter legal office, 828-2238, or contact Capt. Laura DeSio, Headquarters USAF/JAX (laura.desio@pentagon.af.mil or call 1-800-JAG-USAF).