Well obviously doing an application in the summer going into your senior year makes doing certain things your senior year difficult to put on the application. However; there's nothing to say that you can comment leadership positions in other areas. Maybe a captain on the J.V. team in your sophomore/junior years. Maybe selected for Boy's state or similar. Run for office for your class or a club. Do you do volunteer work? If so, be IN CHARGE of a project your group is doing. RUN a fund raiser. There are a ton of things you can do to show leadership.
If you were involved in an activity that included other individuals, and you were responsible for their actions and a TEAM'S success or performance; then that shows leadership. I can't tell you what to do. That's like asking "What Clubs" or "What sports" or "What extra-curricular activities" should you do. If you aren't doing the club, sport, EC, etc... that YOU WANT; and you're doing it to try and fill a square on your application; then IT'S THE WRONG ONE!!!!! Same with leadership. If you aren't seeking leadership positions in areas that you truly enjoy and want to excel at, and are naturally driven to inspire and lead others; then it's THE WRONG ONE!!!
Is leadership important? Most definitely. So are many other areas. I've told people of a person I know who was turned down by the academy even though they were a 4.0 gpa student who had 2200+ SAT and 34+ ACT. The problem is; that's all they had. They didn't have athletics, leadership, etc... And what state you are from has no bearing whatsoever on what the academy is looking for in you. It might have a bearing on your competition; but not on what the academy wants. Leadership, athletics, clubs, EC, volunteering, etc... all have to be activities that YOU WANT TO DO. Ask yourself; "If I wasn't interested in attending the Air Force Academy; would I still pursue doing these activities"? If the answer is YES; then it's the right activity. If the answer is NO; then it's the wrong activity. As far as leadership goes; that should be the natural order of progression that you want to obtain. Not just to fill a square. If your passion is stamps; then you should be in the stamp club; and naturally you should want to progress to being a significant member/leader of the stamp club. Same with band, orchestra, football, track, choir, NHS, boy's state, scouting, CAP, JrRotc, Fishing club, or whatever it is you're interested in. Best of luck. Mike.....
