Fiscal 2011 is on track to be one of the Air Force’s best years ever for bringing in a crop of excellent recruits (see below), according to Air Force Recruiting Service officials. But once the economy strengthens, the Air Force will face some serious recruiting challenges and must adapt its recruiting methods to continue to reach—and attract—future youth, they say. “[W]e have the best recruiting force in the business; however, our recruiting business practices have largely remained the same,” said Brig. Gen. Balan Ayyar, AFRS commander. “To remain the service of choice for the highest performing young Americans, we have to adapt to the environment and our target audience.” Among the initiatives, Ayyar said AFRS is embracing “more content, inspiration, and engagement” via the Internet, including a social media campaign. For example, by this fall, each recruiter will have his/her own Facebook page. (Randolph release)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.