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| Cannon Air Force Base |
June 21, 2006 |
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"New Mexico makes sense for a lot of reasons ... we already do things in New Mexico that are compatible with this mission."
Rep. Heather Wilson
Rapid-Deployment Force Will Help Clovis` Economy
By Charles D. Brunt
Journal Staff Writer
Cannon Air Force Base has a new mission and the Clovis economy has dodged a bullet.
It didn`t take long for news of the mission— which is expected to boost, not reduce, military jobs in the area— to transform the business climate of the base-dependent town.
 "I`ve talked to a couple of people already this afternoon and the excitement, the enthusiasm, and the long-range promise of success in their business is already showing up," said Ernie Kos, executive director of the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce.
"One local Realtor said the phones are already ringing off the hook."
That is in sharp contrast to recent months when "businesses have been on an emotional roller coaster," she said.
The Pentagon announced Tuesday morning that Cannon— now home of the 27th Fighter Wing— will become home to the 16th Special Operations Wing.
The new mission not only will keep the base from being closed in 2010, but will mean more aircraft and crew members than the base at Clovis has now.
The transition will begin this summer and take two to three years. The wing is the largest Air Force unit assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Currently based at Hurlburt Field at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach, Fla., the wing specializes in unconventional warfare. It trains specially equipped forces from various branches of the military to deploy rapidly to trouble spots worldwide, according to the wing`s Web site.
Cannon`s estimated $220 million annual impact on the Clovis economy could have become a casualty in 2010; now it`s on solid footing.
Reprieve
Although the Pentagon had recommended closing Cannon and sending its three F-16 Falcon fighter jet squadrons to other bases, the base was given a reprieve last year when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission asked the Defense Department to find it a new mission by Dec. 31, 2009— or shut it down.
Hanging in the balance were about 4,000 active duty military personnel positions, 600 civilian jobs and an estimated one-third of the area`s economy.
Today, all three appear safe.
"Not only is this great news for Cannon, with its new war-on-terrorism mission, this could mean potentially 1,000 new jobs for Cannon over a period of two to three years," Gov. Bill Richardson said Tuesday.
The additional jobs will be the result of having five different aircraft based at Cannon— the massive MC-130H and AC-130U airplanes, MH-53 and CH-47 helicopters and the CV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey— instead of F-16s exclusively, said Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., during a teleconference with media representatives Tuesday morning.
Cannon, which traditionally hosts about 65 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, could have nearly 100 of the new aircraft, Richardson said.
Pearce, who joined New Mexico`s congressional delegation and Richardson in announcing the new mission, said a net gain in personnel seems likely.
"If we get 80 aircraft, which seems to be the minimum, we`d be about where were are now," Pearce said.
"Overall, a net gain in people seems pretty safe," Pearce said.
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., was more guarded on Cannon`s potential headcount.
"I don`t think anyone can tell you" whether Cannon will have more personnel than it has today, Domenici said. "However, I don`t think we want to be pessimistic— even with people trying to make us be cautionary— because it looks like the number of airplanes will go up from 72 to 94."
Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., said Cannon`s new mission blends well with a new military focus and New Mexico`s other military facilities.
"The new defense strategy calls for a significant expansion in special operations capabilities for the war on terrorism, and the U.S. Air Force needed more space," she said.
"New Mexico makes sense for a lot of reasons ... we already do things in New Mexico that are compatible with this mission," the Air Force Academy graduate said. "The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base trains every special operations pilot in the Air Force. The pararescue jumper school trains in New Mexico, and the CV-22s coming to bed down at Kirtland will eventually be part of the wing over at Cannon."
The military is creating "smaller, lighter, more mobile forces to be able to fight the war on terrorism," Wilson said, and Cannon`s new mission reflects that focus, she said.
Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., whose district includes Cannon, said, "The key here is this new mission fitting into the environment of New Mexico because it`s a lot like Afghanistan and Iraq."
`An ideal solution`
"It`s a great day for the people of Clovis and the surrounding area," Mayor David Lansford said during the teleconference.
"We`ve always been proud supporters of Cannon Air Force Base," he said. "We love the families and look forward to continuing that relationship in the future."
Randy Harris, a Clovis banker who chaired the local drive to keep Cannon off the chopping block, said the state pulled together to create a plan to address the latest round of base closures.
"This is an ideal solution, not only for this area and for Cannon, but for the men and women of the United States Air Force and for our military in general," Harris said. |
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