The latest recruiting and retention numbers show that the Air National Guard has broken a five-month recruiting slump. For the month of March, ANG made 100 percent of its recruiting goal—and the goal was higher, not lower, than it had been over the past four months. Air Guard retention was also stable at 100 percent. All services exceeded their active duty recruiting and retention goals, and only the Army and Navy Reserves did not meet their recruiting goals.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.