Four Polish F-16s took the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission on Tuesday from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The F-16s will operate out of Siauliai AB, Lithuania, and will be supported by five Spanish F-18s, which will operate out of Amari AB, Estonia. Spain replaced the German Air Force in its support role. This is the sixth time Poland has led air policing mission, according to a NATO release.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…