Productive year on base's horizon

The mission at Cannon Air Force Base is critically important to our national security. On a daily basis, we take the fight directly to our nation’s enemies by providing specialized airpower to our joint special operations teammates.

To successfully accomplish our mission, it takes a team of dedicated and hard-working individuals.

link Col. Tony Bauernfeind

Our 27th Special Operations Wing team consists of active-duty airmen, government civilians, contractors, family members, and very importantly, you.

To our community partners, you are key members of the Cannon family and we are deeply appreciative of the phenomenal support you have provided our airmen and their families.

Thank you for everything you do for the team and the nation.

Over the past year, we have received outstanding support for events and programs like Cannon Appreciation Days, Storm the Dorm parties for our young airmen, the single airmen’s holiday party, Angel Arms, and Angel Tree … to name just a few.

This support is vital to building the morale of our team and directly contributes to mission success.

The holiday parties sponsored by the local communities were a phenomenal success. It was a special time of year for us to gather as family and friends.

We celebrated the great accomplishments in support of the wing’s mission, as well as several unit and individual awards. These were priceless moments to relax, laugh and reflect.

Angel Arms makes it possible for single airmen and their families to be reunited during the holidays. This year, Angel Arms, conceived locally in Clovis and funded by community donors, has supported 33 reunions. The program is now capable of operating the entire year, and can provide the funds to send airmen home due to an emergency, on a case-by-case basis — impressive for an organic program that only started in 2011.

Another program that positively affected some of our Air Commando families was the Angel Tree. Through the collaboration of various base organizations, combined with the partnership of community volunteers, children up to 16 received anonymous gifts. The generosity of many donors made their holiday wishes come true.

To all those who make these programs happen, thank you!

This year is shaping up to be an exciting period for our wing. There are some challenging times ahead, but with the professionalism, selfless devotion and dedication of our team, I am confident 2014 will be a rewarding and successful year.

Our Air Commandos will stay heavily involved in combat operations around the globe, and we must remain vigilant should the nation need us in emerging hot-spots.

Additionally, we will continue to grow the size of the wing as we bring two new missions to the base. These units will enhance and expand our combat capabilities, as well as bring more families to the area.

We will complete many construction projects in 2014, including an airmen’s dormitory and numerous operations and maintenance facilities. We will also initiate or continue numerous construction projects that will contribute to mission success well into the future.

Cannon will remain a busy place to work and live.

Finally, mark your calendars for our 2014 Air Show and Open House, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team May 24–25. There will be many other military and civilian performers, to include a flying demonstration of Air Commandos. We will release details as they are made available.

This year will be busy for our wing, but with the dedication of our Cannon family and the support of our community partners, I am confident we will continue our track record of success.

Col. Tony Bauernfeind is the 27th SOW wing commander. Contact him at:

[email protected]