According to the latest Pentagon data, retention for active and reserve components remained strong for the month of March. Recruiting for the active forces also was on track, with all the services making at least 100 percent of their goals. However, the Air National Guard fell to 90 percent and Army Reserve to 80 percent of their respective recruiting goals for March. This is the second month in a row that ANG recruiting has come up short, yet its strong retention level—111 percent in March—continues to sustain Air Guard end strength at 99 percent.
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.