ARLINGTON, Va. — Air Force officers and some noncommissioned officers who are fluent in a language other than English might be eligible for an exchange program that lets them swap jobs with a member of an allied nation’s air force.

The purpose of the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program, or MPEP, is for the Air Force to strengthen ties with the air forces of allies and make it easier to operate together in times of crisis, according to the Air Force message outlining the program.

Twenty-three U.S. allies have signed on to participate in the exchange program, including France, Italy, Spain, Jordan, Russia, Turkey and Thailand.

There are 166 exchange positions available in the program, of which 163 are reserved for officers; three are reserved for NCOs. Active, reserve and Air National Guard airmen are all eligible to participate.

In an exchange, two airmen of equivalent rank and specialty would take each other’s job for two years, plus travel and training time. Families are authorized to move to the host country along with their Air Force sponsor.

Airmen interested in applying for the exchange program should ask their military personnel flight office for information about putting together a nomination package. There is no application deadline.

Details about the Military Personnel Exchange Program are also available in Air Force Instruction 16-107 at: www.e-publishing.af.mil/ pubfiles/af/16/afi16-107/afi16-107.pdf.