Air Force, Space Force Recruitment Surges Despite Iran Tensions

0:00It's April 27. Welcome in. This is U.S. News Today, where America meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Despite all the buzz about tensions with Iran, young Americans are still lining up to join the Air Force and Space Force. Brigadier General Jeff Nelson, who runs recruitment for both, says enlistments haven't dipped at all. In fact, they've already smashed their goals for the fiscal year, with months still to go. This is a huge flip from last year, when the Air Force missed its target by about 2700 recruits for the first time in over two decades. Space Force has stayed on track since it launched in 2019. Nelson credits nationwide recruiter Hussle, and tweaks to enlistment rules, by bumping body fat limits to 26% for men and 36% for women. Folks are responding well, with only a tiny number of those new recruits hitting snags and training. Those living overseas, even outside bases, are jumping in to spread the word and boost numbers.

1:01Earlier this week, Nelson visited spots like Yokota Air Base and Kadena in Okinawa, chatting with recruiters who also handle outreach in South Korea. Space Force is pulling in talent from cyber and intel fields, keeping the momentum rolling strong into the future.