Air Force JAG Corps announces law school programs

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GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers, and the Excess Leave Program (ELP), an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers, are being accepted through March 1. Those interested are encouraged to apply.

Both the FLEP and ELP programs require attendance at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States, 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 (LSAT) results, and interview with a staff judge advocate by Feb. 15. Officers must provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field. Selection for both programs is competitive.

Applicants meet a selection board in early March, and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole person" concept. The total number of applicants selected for any academic year is based on the needs of the Air Force.

The FLEP is considered an assignment, where 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, established by The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), and positions may be limited due to overall funding availability. Academic Year 2012 was set at approximately $16,000 per year, but may change year to year. A handful of seats have been secured for Grand Forks AFB in 2013 and all eligible officers interested in becoming a member of the Air Force JAG Corps are encouraged to apply.

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.

The number of FLEP and ELP applicants selected in any academic year is determined based on the needs of the Air Force.

"Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad background of military experiences," said Lt. Col. Michael Safko, 319th Air Base Wing Staff Judge Advocate. "The FLEP and ELP will ensure that we can continue to maintain a corps of officers whose military experience complements their legal training providing commanders with the highest caliber of legal support."

According to Safko, Air Force JAGs do more than just provide legal assistance. In addition to prosecuting and defending clients brought before courts-martial, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every facet of the Air Force mission including developing and acquiring weapons systems, ensuring availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated, consulting with commanders about how those systems are employed in armed conflict, and assisting commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world.

"Every facet of every Air Force mission is bound by elements of the law," Safko said.

For more information about FLEP and ELP, see Air Force Instruction 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3. For application materials, visit , contact your base legal office, or contact Maj. Sean Elameto, HQ USAF/JAX (sean.elameto@pentagon.af.mil) or call 1-800-JAG-USAF.

Courtesy of the 319th Air Base Wing Legal Office