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U.S. Air Force Maj. Clifford Scruggs, 27th Special Operations Maintenance Operations Squadron commander, works diligently in his office at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., June 18, 2012. Scruggs assumed command of the 27 SOMOS on June 1 and hopes to have a positive effect on each member of his new squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Xavier Lockley)
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Determination pays off
Posted 7/2/2012 Updated 7/3/2012
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by Airman 1st Class Xavier Lockley
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
7/2/2012 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- All enlisted members are presented with numerous opportunities to fly, fight and win during their Air Force careers. It takes a select few among the enlisted force with the drive and determination to progress in higher levels of leadership.
For one squadron commander, the idea of excelling never faded. Even as a Staff Sergeant he held onto his aspirations of becoming an officer.
"I began my career on June 30, 1993 when I enlisted into the Aircraft Structural Maintenance career field as an Airman Basic," said Maj. Clifford Scruggs, 27th Special Operations Maintenance Operations Squadron commander. "As an Airman, I was first stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Del., for three years."
By the time Scruggs reached the rank of Senior Airman, he had received orders to Osan Air Base, Korea, for one year with a follow-on tour to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
"It was at Shaw that I met my wife Jessica," said Scruggs. "From there I would go on three deployments to Turkey, become a Staff Sergeant and be selected to attend Officer Training School."
"My original goal when I enlisted was to serve honorably for four years, earn as much toward my degree as possible and go back to North Carolina," he said. "I thought it would be impossible to attain a commission while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree."
"Once I completed my Bachelor's degree and started working on my Master's, I began exploring the possibilities of continuing to serve my country as a commissioned officer," said Scruggs. "I was notified by my commander two months after submitting my application to OTS that I had been accepted. Everything happened so much faster than I ever thought possible."
Scruggs was only half way through OTS when the tragedy of September 11 struck. After completion of OTS as a 2nd Lieutenant, he became an Aircraft Maintenance Officer.
"That career happened to be my number one choice to get me back into the maintenance career field that I loved so deeply," he said. "I was then assigned to Charleston AFB, S.C., and after Charleston, I got orders to Lajes Field, Portugal. Two years later, I was relocated to Sheppard AFB, Texas, then once more to Edwards AFB, Calif., before coming to Cannon and joining the 27th Special Operations Wing."
Maj. Deedrick Reese, Air Force Special Operations Command, relinquished command of the 27 SOMOS to Scruggs on June 1. Reese had been Scruggs' flight commander at Shaw AFB when Scruggs was a Senior Airman.
"I will always have very fond memories of my time as an enlisted troop and a huge respect for the enlisted corps," said Scruggs. "Along the way, I have learned something different from each and every squadron commander I've ever had - and after 19 years I've had quite a few. I hope to take all the different lessons and build upon them in order to have a positive effect on each member of the 27 SOMOS."
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