According to the Pentagon data, the Air and Army National Guard and Army and Navy Reserve fell below their recruiting goals for February. ANG recruiters only found 92 percent of their goal, ending a run of strong recruiting months in the first part of the fiscal year. All of the active forces achieved or bettered their February recruiting goals and are maintaining good retention numbers. Air Guard retention slipped somewhat, to 97 percent of its cumulative goal. Still, ANG stands at 99 percent of its authorized end strength.
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.