According to the data for February, the Air National Guard fell below its monthly recruiting goal again, achieving only 88 percent of its 680-person target. The Naval Reserve posted the lowest of the reserve components, reaching only 81 percent of its goal. While retention numbers have been a saving grace for the Air Guard, the February rate of 95 percent is good but not as good as the previous month. All services exceeded their active duty marks for new recruits and continued to meet retention goals.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.