Cannon AFB / Clovis NM observations

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07-24-2013, 07:46 AM

#31

Airhoss

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Joined APC: Apr 2008

Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.

Posts: 5,709

If you have any interest in dairy cows or historical tire storage, Clovis is the place for you. Good antelope viewing as well.

07-24-2013, 08:36 AM

#32

XHooker

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Joined APC: Mar 2008

Posts: 1,083

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR

They were there on a x/c because the Q was better than El Toro's! Same type of accomodations btw.

DId an XC to El Toro and only vaguely remember the Q. Didn't stand out as much as NAS Dallas'. Definitely don't remember big critters in the overhead, but I think I wound up spending the night in town with a friend and just left my gear in the Q.

Quote:

Most bases have gotten rid of the E-5 overrun gear too.

Good thing there are no Scooters or Sewer Pipes left.

07-24-2013, 05:22 PM

#33

Deuce130

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Joined APC: Nov 2005

Position: 777 FO

Posts: 931

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunshipGuy

I saw this thread and had to check in. I've never been to Clovis, which is one of the many highlights of my 20 year career. Unfortunately, my squadron had to move there not long after I retired. To date, the only good thing I've heard about the place is that it results in knowing your fellow squadron members better. I hesitate to use the word "camaraderie." But I guess I could; Vietnam built camaraderie, didn't they?

From the accounts I've heard, you're counting the days until you can leave. Flying suffers (more downgrades are the result of less favorable training conditions that HRT offers), more divorces, poor to no options for any decent educational choices for the kids, a big drop in PME candidate results on promotion boards, lack of adequate housing/rental options, poor support for a base that supported fighters and wasn't ready for the schedule AFSOC lives by, etc., etc., etc. To sum it up: the back room deal worked between Sen Domenici and Gen Brown was a real b@ll buster for the mean and women who weren't going out there for a 2-3 year DO/CC job.

AFSOC traded Cannon for a fleet of MC-130J/AC-130Js. I remember when it happened, the floodgates opened up in the Gunship community. It's funny most guys on this thread are remembering cross countries and Vipers, but the current suffering by AFSOC personnel is real. I've got several buddies who are there or who have been there. Many wives/kids don't make the trip, the schools are terrible, housing is awful, nothing to do, high deployment rates, bad weather, most of AFSOCs suicides/attempts are from there, you name it...yet AFSOC continues to hype it as some kind of great deal. There was just an announcement of a move of some units out there, AFSOC counted on a 10% attrition rate but I hear it's more like 40%. It's truly an awful assignment for a vast majority of guys no matter how much the command tries to sugarcoat it. I've always said that the 16 SOW/CC back in 2004 had simply closed the door and told us all what a **** sandwhich we were about to eat, things may have been different. Instead, he blew smoke at everyone and it blew up in AFSOCs face.