The Air Force continued to post strong recruiting numbers for Fiscal 2013 through May, according to the Pentagon’s latest recruiting statistics. The service’s Active Duty component met its fiscal-year-to-date goal by bringing in 18,695 accessions, states the Defense Department’s July 3 release. The Air National Guard accepted 6,732 accessions through May, also matching its numerical accession goal. The Air Force Reserve surpassed its target, attracting 4,856 recruits, or 109 percent of its goal of 4,439 accessions, states the release. Across the sister services and their reserve components, only the Army Reserve did not meet or exceed its accession goal through May, falling 1,662 new recruits short if its target. (See also our coverage of April’s recruiting numbers.)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.