The Air Force’s three components continued to meet their respective recruiting goals through the end of March, the halfway point for Fiscal 2013, according to the Defense Department’s newest recruiting statistics. The service’s Active Duty component brought in 13,989 accessions through March, matching its fiscal-year-to-date goal, states the Pentagon’s May 2 release with the figures. Similarly, the Air National Guard accepted 4,875 accessions, reaching its target. The Air Force Reserve attracted 3,685 recruits through March, also matching its goal. Across the sister services, only the Army Reserve did not meet or exceed its numerical accession goal at the fiscal year’s halfway point, falling short by 1,501 accessions, states the release. Last month, Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, ANG director, told lawmakers that while the Air Guard has been meeting its accession goals this fiscal year, it still has fallen below its congressionally authorized end strength due to lower than anticipated retention in certain career fields. (See also our coverage of February’s recruiting numbers.)
Collaborative Combat Aircraft designs from Anduril and General Atomics passed their critical design reviews early in November, clearing the way for detailed production efforts to get underway, the Air Force said. How future versions will be upgraded is still under discussion.