The Air Force increased the age limit for enlisted accessions from 27 to 39, a change that “affects all 130-plus enlisted career specialties,” according to a service release. “We are just complying with [Defense Department] mandates on the max age for enlisted members,” explained an Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman at the organization’s Facebook page. The change applies to the Active Duty component and the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. “Raising the age limit doesn’t mean we will increase the number we enlist each year. … In fact that number is dropping,” said the spokeswoman. “We are broadening our demographics so we can be more selective with our applicants to ensure we are taking in highly qualified members,” she said. The new age limit, announced on June 24, took effect immediately.
The U.S. military is doubling down on non-space-based alternatives to GPS, the ubiquitous position, navigation, and timing service provided by the U.S. Space Force, with new funding for the development and testing of operational prototypes of quantum-based devices that don’t depend on easily jammable signals from satellites.