Military
recruiting hit another high note as job losses and job stagnation continue in a still shaky economy. According to the data released by the Pentagon May 11, all the services and their reserve components met or exceeded their enlisted accession goals for the month of April. The Air Force accepted five more than its goal of 2,162 new recruits, while the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve also accepted a few above their goals of 860 and 783, respectively. Because of the continuing recruiting bonanza, the Obama Administration has proposed trimming the 2010 military recruiting and retention account by about $800 million under the $7.039 billion enacted in 2009, “without sacrificing the high quality of today’s force,” according to statement on the reduction by the Office of Management and Budget. To make this 11 percent cut, OMB says the services plan to implement such economies as holding recruiting and retention programs at 2009 levels, reducing enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, reducing advertising budgets, and reducing the number of recruiters.
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
