US Air Forces in Europe is celebrating its 65th anniversary as the oldest active Air Force major command. The War Department established Headquarters 8th Air Force on Jan. 18, 1942—from which date USAFE traces its heritage.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…