Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff Sgt. Craig Seals
William Anderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander and Major Gen. Kenneth DeCuir, Air Combat Command vice commander visited Cannon Saturday in order to showcase and highlight the new special operations mission scheduled to come here in the fall of 2007.
Later in the day they visited the Clovis Civic Center where residents gathered to celebrate Cannon’s new mission.
Also in attendance were Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish and the New Mexico congressional delegation.
In Hangar 133, personnel from AFSOC had aircraft, vehicles and equipment on display, as well as subject matter experts on hand to give detailed description of how each is deployed and used by the command.
An MC-130H Combat Talon II, a CV-22 Osprey and an AC-130U Gunship were available for the media and delegates to tour and speak with the crews who fly them.
“We have all the best toys,” said Lt. Col. Bob Monroe, 4th Special Operations Squadron commander, Hurlbert Field, Fla.
Gen. Wooley said that his command is looking forward to their arrival here due to the “perfect conditions” the area offers with regard to weather and terrain.
Tech. Sgt. Jason Kemp, an instructor with the 720th Operation Support Squadron, Hurlbert Field, Fla., gave briefings on battlefield airmen, their weapons, equipment and vehicles, and their uses in different types of missions.
Equipment ranged from weapons, goggles and field gear to all-terrain vehicles all used in special operations missions.
After the AFSOC briefing in Hangar 133, the distinguished visitors continued on to the Clovis Civic Center to address the local community.
AFSOC is scheduled to assume command of Cannon in October 2007.
