The Air Force met its recruiting goals for April, matching its plan to attract 2,435 new accessions, according to figures that the Department of Defense released May 12. In fact, all of the services met or exceeded their goals for the month, once again dispelling fears of a slow recruiting year. And for the third month in a row, the Air National Guard exceeded its goals, attracting an additional 203 recruits. The Air Force Reserve surpassed its goal by one recruit.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.