AFSOC slowly stands up units at N.M. base

[unhappycamper]

AFSOC slowly stands up units at N.M. base
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Feb 23, 2008 16:13:16 EST

Apprehension swept through the ranks of the air commando community back in 2006 after Air Force Special Operations Command leaders rescued Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., from the scrap heap of the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

Among AFSOC airmen — living in plush surroundings at Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Kadena Air Base, Japan; and RAF Mildenhall, England — rumors swirled about who might get uprooted and moved to rural northeastern New Mexico, where the closest city, Lubbock, Texas, is 90 minutes away.

Now, more than a year later, questions still remain over exactly which airmen and how many aircraft will be sent to Cannon, but as the unit structure crystallizes, the local community prepares for their arrival.

AFSOC’s invasion of Cannon started modestly in the fall when the 27th Special Operations Wing — formerly the 27th Fighter Wing — stood up Oct. 1. Recently, the 73rd Special Operations Squadron moved in with its four MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft, and the Air Force stood up the 318th Special Operations Squadron, which has two PC-12 Pilatus aircraft.About 2,500 airmen now call Cannon home.

Initially, AFSOC proposed stationing about 5,700 airmen at Cannon by 2010, but a January Government Accountability Office report to Congress stated that the Defense Department might cut that number to 4,300. AFSOC also plans to bring fewer aircraft to the base than originally projected —only 68 by 2010, GAO said.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_cannon_life_022308w/