With the economy still in a downfall—most analysts say the struggle back up will be long and hard—military enlisted recruiting continues strong, according to the November data released by the Pentagon on Dec. 10. The second month of the new fiscal year mirrors the strong showing in October and the final tally for Fiscal 2008. The Air National Guard is continuing to lead the recruiting efforts for the Total Air Force, besting the active duty and Air Force Reserve Command percentages again. All three air components achieved 100 percent or better of their November goals. The other services also met or exceeded their goals.
While U.S. defense officials have spent much of the past decade warning that China is the nation’s pacing threat and its People’s Liberation Army represents an urgent threat in the Indo-Pacific, several defense researchers are skeptical that the PLA has the human capital, the structural ability, or the political appetite…