So far this fiscal year, all active and most of the reserve components have achieved—or bettered—their monthly recruiting goals, according to the latest numbers released by DOD. The new data, combined with that from the previous three months, indicates that USAF has recruited an average of 2,260 active duty airmen, making its goal each month. The Air National Guard, after a somewhat problematic few months last fiscal year, consistently has achieved better than its monthly goals this year. Air Force Reserve Command has met or bettered its goals, as well. However, Air Force officials already are predicting that the recruiting picture will get tougher with the push to increase the number of soldiers and marines.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.