The August enlisted recruiting figures are posted and the Air Force picked up 104 percent of its monthly active duty goal—putting it at 101 percent for the fiscal year, so far. The Army had a good August, but it is still down at 90 percent of its annual goal. Also not painting a rosy picture is the annual number posted so far by the Air National Guard—85 percent of its goal. ANG retention, though, is still running strong, at 108 percent. Air Force Reserve Command has met 112 percent of its recruiting goal for the year.
The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.