The June recruiting numbers show a continuing downward trend for the Air National Guard that now spans five months. The Air Guard recruited just 75 percent of its goal of 1,036 airmen. Most of the media focus over last month’s statistics, however, is on the Army, which has now missed its goals for two months. In contrast, the Army National Guard recruited a few more than its goal of 5,338. The saving grace for the Air Guard continues to be its strong retention (98 percent for June), enabling an end strength of 99 percent. The active Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command both met their June goals.
The Air Force on March 12 awarded contract modifications worth a combined $2.4 billion to Boeing to procure an undisclosed number of E-7 Wedgetail as part of the program's engineering and manufacturing development phase and continue work on the airborne battle management aircraft’s radar.