The military academies reportedly have received significantly more applications than the year before. The US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., leads the pack, with a 40 percent jump, while the US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo., had a 10 percent increase and the US Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., nine percent. According to an Associated Press report, John Van Winkle, a USAFA spokesman, said applications for Class 2013 at the Colorado school topped the past five years. As with the continued strong recruiting experienced by the services, the academies believe that the still struggling economy may have been a factor. (Also read this New York Times report)
South Korea conducted the final live-fire drill with its F-4 Phantom II and AGM-142 missiles before retiring the two defense assets in June, amid the largest U.S.-Korea Aerial Exercise in full swing.