Number of airmen and guardian recruits eligible for initial enlistment bonuses projected to grow fivefold

Number of airmen and guardian recruits eligible for initial enlistment bonuses projected to grow fivefold

Over 25,000 Air Force recruits stand to receive an initial enlistment bonus in the service’s 2026 budget, exceeding the current budget year’s estimate of 4,500 by more than five times. The Space Force is raising the number of eligible guardians from about 100 this fiscal year to 550 in 2026.