JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – Active duty Airmen interested in unique developmental opportunities may be eligible for the Olmsted Scholar, White House Fellows and Mansfield Fellowship Exchange programs.
The programs offer unique professional career developmental experience for Air Force leaders, according to Kris Hunter, Air Force Personnel Center officer developmental education. Applicants for all programs must be released by their career field team before submitting applications, added Hunter.
Olmsted Scholar Program
The Olmsted Scholar Program is an opportunity for Air Force line officers to study in a foreign language at a university overseas. Candidates selected for the program will experience cultural immersion in the selected country, including university study in the native language. Applicants must be line officers with at least three years of commissioned service, but no more than 11 years of total active federal military service by April 1, 2016. Applicants must meet minimum academic and language requirements. Application packages are due to AFPC by Aug. 14. For more information about the program, go to the Olmsted Foundation website at www.olmstedfoundation.org.
White House Fellows Program
The White House Fellows Program provides emerging leaders first-hand experience in the American government process. Selected officer candidates work for a year as special assistants or senior executives to cabinet-level agencies or in the executive office. A nonpartisan program, participants experience the process of governing the nation, working with high-level public servants and participating in roundtable discussions with notable private sector and public leaders. Selectees must be available for reassignment. Nomination packages are due by July 31, 2015 for the 2016-2017 programs. For more information about the program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/about/fellows.
Mansfield Fellowship Exchange Program
Eligible officers and federal government employees interested in cultural immersion in Japan can look into the Mansfield Fellowship Exchange Program. Named after former U.S. Ambassador Mike Mansfield, the program enables federal employees to develop in-depth understanding of Japan and its government and to develop relationships with their Japanese counterparts. Participants will have a seven-week home-stay and intensive Japanese language program in the Ishikawa Prefecture, followed by a 10-month placement in Tokyo. Selectees must be available for reassignment. Nomination memos are due to AFPC by July 31. For more information about the program, go to www.mansfieldfdn.org.
Complete eligibility requirements and application instructions for all programs are available at the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.
