AFRS has a national defense-related mission need in the area of recruiting individuals without a current propensity or interest in military service. All branches of the US military are competing for a shrinking pool of highly academic, eligible candidates between the ages of 17 - 21 who exhibit a propensity to service. To meet end strength needs, the USAF must engage and inspire the larger pool of highly academic, eligible candidates who are unfamiliar with military service. Today's rising generation has moved away from television and sports, and now spends substantial recreation time playing video games, mostly on mobile phones. AFRS has proposed development of USAF-X, a casual, strategy game for mobile that will allow the rising generation of gamers to experience the USAF virtually.? Gameplay involves building a USAF base, acquiring aircraft and flying real world missions. The game is a powerful, low-cost way to reach untapped pools of tech-savvy candidates. Commercial applications include releasing a version of the game on mobile app stores to be played by strategy and casual gamers (65% of phone owners) and using the game as a training tool for planning and strategy in corporate and government environments.
