The Air Force Recruiting Service stood up three squadrons dedicated to attracting health professionals to the Air Force. The new units are: the 318th Recruiting Squadron based in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; 342nd RCS in San Antonio; and 348th RCS in Clearfield, Utah. AFRS officials activated them on Dec. 6 as part of a reorganization meant to place “a more appropriate focus” on the HP recruiting mission, according to a Dec. 12 release from the recruiting service, which is headquartered at JBSA-Randolph, Tex. The 318th RCS reports to the 360th Recruiting Group, the 342nd RCS to the 369th RCG, and the 348th RCS to the 372nd RCG. Prior to 2009, HP recruiters were assigned to squadrons. But after a subsequent force-shaping measure, they reported directly to recruiting groups. That move “put a strain on the groups’ resources,” said Col. Michael Vlk, AFRS vice commander, in explaining the return to the squadron set-up. He added, “We recognized that sharing support staffs wasn’t an effective way of doing business, plus it de-emphasized the focus that was needed from a recruiting standpoint.” (Randolph report by Annette Crawford)
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.