The Air Force’s active and reserve components met their numerical accession goals through the first quarter of Fiscal 2013, according to the Pentagon’s newest recruiting statistics. Through December, the Air Force’s Active Duty component accepted 6,516 accessions, matching its fiscal-year-to-date target, show the data, issued on Feb. 15. Similarly, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve met their goals by bringing in 2,170 and 1,872 new accessions, respectively. Across the other services and their reserve components, only the Army Reserve did not meet or exceed its accession goal through December, finishing 572 recruits short. (See also our coverage of November’s recruiting numbers.)
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.

