‘Airmen walk away from an explosive detonation during EPIC CRAB 25 Exercise at Northwest Field, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 1, 2025. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adasha Williams.

The service rallied in 2024, signing up more than 27,000 airmen. That success prompted the Air Force Recruiting Service to initially hope for 20% growth in 2025, to bring in 32,500 new airmen.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David A. Flosi speaks to students of the Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, April 29, 2025.

Air Force airmen and Space Force guardians stand in formation at an activation ceremony at Schriever Space Force Base, Colo., on June 18, 2025. (U.S. Space Force ) ...

The Air Force had to reduce its target recruiting goal by several thousand airmen due to ongoing congressional budget delays, but is still on pace to hit its newly revised benchmark by the end of ...