Posted on 06/20/2006 1:52:10 PM PDT by CedarDave
Cannon Air Force Base, threatened with closure after its three F-16 fighter squadrons were ordered elsewhere, will become a special operations base, the Pentagon announced today.
The base will become the Air Force's 16th Special Operations Wing within the next two years, Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said. ''It will change rather dramatically in character,'' he said.
The base will have several different kinds of airplanes and more of them, Domenici and Gov. Bill Richardson said. ''It means the new focus of the special operations wing is the war on terrorism,'' Richardson said.
''The best news is that it looks like the personnel, although all the details aren't out there, will remain, or there won't be that many changes,'' Richardson said. The Defense Department did not give details in its briefing with New Mexico leaders, but the consensus of those on a teleconference call announcing the base's new mission was that Cannon will probably gain not only troops but also airplanes — going from 72 F-16s currently to 94 planes of different types.
More details are expected to be announced July 1.
The transition will start this summer, and the change of command is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2007, said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
''The key here is this new mission fitting into the environment of New Mexico because it's a lot like Afghanistan and Iraq,'' said Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., whose district includes Cannon.
Domenici also said Cannon's new mission won't end with a resolution to the situation in Iraq. The war on terrorism is not ''singularly related to Iraq'' and ''probably will go on indefinitely.''
Linking special operations to training forces for the war on terrorism means ''New Mexico will be in the middle of defining what our force structure looks like,'' Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
To be Special Ops Aircraft crews and well trained requires lots of night work and low flying. Works best in areas with limited populations.
Looks like a winner all around.
Always knew New Mexico was special.
Hate to see Richardson get any credit, of course he will try to take all of it.
The type of base which works well if you love to hunt or so other Airmen have told me. I will stick to Luke AFB.
''The key here is this new mission fitting into the environment of New Mexico because it's a lot like Afghanistan and Iraq,'' said Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., whose district includes Cannon."
I thought the Democrats want us out of Iraq and Afghanistan Tom?
Almost anyplace is better than Nellis was.
Guess you've never been to Clovis. :)
Spent the worse 1 year, 2 weeks and 3 days of my career at Cannon.
I was born there!!!!!!
Yep - a place no one in their right mind wants to go to!
Cannon AFB Veteran, 94-98. Lived in Portales and drove the 20+ miles from "base housing" to the base.
The place even has their own version of the Taliban...
Such statements are a sure way to find orders to Cannon in your in box, say tomorrow. You'll go where they send you. Just like I did, believe me, I did not sign up to go to Oklahoma City. :)
Portales itself wasn't bad - I lived near the University.
It was the 4 hour drive to get anywhere that hurt.
Having been stationed at both Luke and Nellis (my last two assignments), I can say that Luke and especially Nellis had great hunting.
But then again I suppose it might depend on what you were after.
Not a good place for singles, that's for sure. Better for families that like a rural lifestyle.
It was all of the NM Congressional delegation plus King Bill. But, you're right; he'll probably try to take most of the credit.
I heard some guy imported some exotic animal that is fun to hunt?
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