Air 
Force recruiting remained robust across the Total Force three-quarters of the way through Fiscal 2012, according to the Pentagon’s newest recruiting numbers, issued on July 23. The Air Force’s Active Duty component attracted 21,332 accessions, matching its fiscal-year-to-date goal through June, the data show. The Air National Guard brought in 6,453 new recruits through June, 14 more than its target. The Air Force Reserve met its goal by accepting 6,458 accessions. Meanwhile, the Army’s, Marine Corps’, and Navy’s Active Duty components all met or exceeded their year-to-date accessions goals through June, as did each of their reserve components, according to the recruiting figures. June marked the first month in Fiscal 2012 that the Army National Guard has met or exceeded its year-to-date recruiting target. (See also our coverage of May’s recruiting figures.)
Dirty hydraulic fluid and freezing weather led to the loss of an F-35 stealth fighter in Alaska this winter when its landing gear froze and convinced the aircraft’s computer that it was on the ground rather than in-flight.