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JAG corps accepting applications to FLEP, ELP

  • Published
  • By Capt. Megan Mallone
  • 82nd Training Wing Assistance Staff Judge Advocate
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from Jan. 1 through March 1.

The FLEP, a paid legal studies program, and the ELP, an unpaid legal studies program, is for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers.

The FLEP is an assignment action, and participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. ELP participants do not receive pay and allowances, but remain on active duty for retirement eligibility and benefits purposes.

"Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad background of military experiences," said Col. Mark Garney, 82nd Training 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."

Colonel Garney said Air Force judge advocate generals 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," the colonel said.
FLEP applicants must have between two and six years active-duty service 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, and the Academic Year 2010 is set at about $16,000 per year. This amount may change year to year.

ELP applicants must have between two and 10 years active-duty service and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school.

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 a federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates.

To be considered for FLEP or ELP, applicants must have completed all application forms, applied to at least one ABA accredited law school (acceptance is not required at the time of application for FLEP/ELP) , received their Law School Admissions Test results and completed a Staff Judge Advocate interview by March 1. 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 using a "whole person" concept. Selection for both programs is competitive.

For more information, refer to Air Force Instruction 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, contact the base legal office, or call 1-800-JAG-USAF.