Both 
the Air Force’s Active Duty component and the Air Force Reserve met their recruiting goals through the first 11 months of Fiscal 2012, while the Air National Guard surpassed its numerical accessions target during that same span, according to the Pentagon’s newest recruiting statistics, released on Oct. 9. Through August, the Active Duty force attracted 26,738 accessions, while the Reserve brought in 7,839 new recruits, show the data. Meanwhile, the Air Guard accepted 8,294 accessions, 541 more than its fiscal-year-to-date goal of 7,753, states the Defense Department’s release. Across the other services and their reserve components, only the Army Reserve did not meet or exceed its year-to-date target. This component fell short some 567 recruits through August; however, this “was intentional” as the land service works to rebalance its force, states the release. (See also our coverage of July’s recruiting numbers.)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.