Air Force officials at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., have set a new mark for new recruits sworn in at one time at the base. During a July 17 ceremony, 201 high school graduates from Washington and Oregon enlisted, breaking the previous enlistee record of 178. “It was very exciting to see the future of the Air Force,” said Col. Kevin Kilb, commander of Lewis-McChord’s 62nd Airlift Wing. He led the swearing-in ceremony, which took place before the start of the base’s 2010 air expo. He added, “We had the opportunity to show our community the airmen they’ll be seeing at air shows a few years from now.” Air Force recruiting has remained strong throughout 2010, as reflected in the June figures released last week. (Lewis-McChord release)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.