The June recruiting numbers show a continuing downward trend for the Air National Guard that now spans five months. The Air Guard recruited just 75 percent of its goal of 1,036 airmen. Most of the media focus over last month’s statistics, however, is on the Army, which has now missed its goals for two months. In contrast, the Army National Guard recruited a few more than its goal of 5,338. The saving grace for the Air Guard continues to be its strong retention (98 percent for June), enabling an end strength of 99 percent. The active Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command both met their June goals.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III chaired a China-focused military briefing Oct. 27, part of a biweekly series of briefings with senior military commanders about China’s growing threat in the wake of an orbital hypersonic weapon test that elicited public worries from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. “What we…