The latest recruiting and retention figures released Tuesday by the Pentagon show November as a strong recruiting month for each service and all reserve components except the Army and Navy Reserves. The Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command each recruited 100 percent of their goals. The Air National Guard, which struggled somewhat last year, posted the best record of all, taking in 115 percent of its goal.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.