All the military services and their reserve components still are taking in more than enough recruits and retaining sufficient current personnel to keep up with demands, according to the latest recruiting and retention data released by the Pentagon. Only the Army National Guard was slightly off, bringing in about 97 percent of its goal for the month of December, but, according to the Pentagon, it is on track to meet its year-end recruiting goal. Last month, Pentagon officials noted that the Air National Guard had to reduce its previously planned intake, but in December the Air Guard was well over its goal of 450, recruiting 692 enlistees.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.