Air Force officials at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., have set a new mark for new recruits sworn in at one time at the base. During a July 17 ceremony, 201 high school graduates from Washington and Oregon enlisted, breaking the previous enlistee record of 178. “It was very exciting to see the future of the Air Force,” said Col. Kevin Kilb, commander of Lewis-McChord’s 62nd Airlift Wing. He led the swearing-in ceremony, which took place before the start of the base’s 2010 air expo. He added, “We had the opportunity to show our community the airmen they’ll be seeing at air shows a few years from now.” Air Force recruiting has remained strong throughout 2010, as reflected in the June figures released last week. (Lewis-McChord release)
The Pentagon announced new long-term agreements with four defense companies May 13 to develop and produce large numbers of low-cost cruise missiles. And while the effort will focus mostly on the Army to start, it pairs with Air Force efforts to find more affordable munitions.