Nominations sought for 2016 Sijan Award Published June 7, 2016 By Kat Bailey Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force Personnel Center is currently accepting nominations through Aug. 31 for the 2016 Lance P. Sijan U.S. Air Force Leadership Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of total force officers and enlisted leaders who demonstrate the highest qualities of leadership in the performance of their duties and personal conduct. Nominees will be rated in several areas to include their scope of responsibility, professional leadership and leadership image. The award categories are senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted. The award period is July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016, and each major command, forward operating agency or direct reporting unit may submit one nomination in each of the four categories. The Sijan Award, established in 1981, is named in honor of the late Capt. Lance P. Sijan, the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. A combat pilot, Sijan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his determination while evading capture by the North Vietnamese and during his subsequent captivity as a prisoner of war after being shot down Nov. 9, 1967. Search for eligibility and application procedures on myPers with the keyword "Sijan." For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to the myPers website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.