Enlisted recruiting and retention data just released by the Pentagon shows a successful month in April for each of the military services and their reserve components. (Note: Navy data is preliminary or unavailable because Navy Personnel Command took down some of its data systems because of flooding, according to another DOD release.) The active duty Air Force wanted and got 2,275 accessions; the Air National Guard accepted 214 enlistees over its goal of 487; and Air Force Reserve acquired 45 more than its goal of 784. Meanwhile, as we reported last month, the highly favorable recruiting and retention climate has forced the Air Force to invoke involuntary reduction measures to ensure it will not exceed its authorized end strength for 2012.
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.