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Dorm shortages call for creative planning

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Cannon leadership held a meeting at the base theater Aug 3 for Airmen who live in the dormitories to discuss ongoing issues and planned courses of action to help with the influx of new personnel. 

As of Aug 3, there is currently an occupancy rate of 98 percent in the seven dormitories that Airmen currently reside in. Both single Airmen and Airmen with families arrive at the base daily said Chief Master Sgt. Hector Baez, the interim 27th Special Operations Wing Command Chief.
 
"There are more people coming into the base than there are leaving," he said as he outlined the planned actions of the wing to address the dormitory housing situation. 

These plans include providing Basic Allowance for Housing to Airmen who are within six months of being promoted to Senior Airman; using more than 40 rooms at Caprock Inn; and rooming two Airmen to a room in Dorms 555 and 550. 

One reason that Airmen will share a room in the two dorms is that there is enough square footage in each room to comply with Air Force regulations said Chief Baez. 

"This is keeping wing leadership up at night," said Chief Baez. "We are very concerned about giving the best quality of life to all Airmen, not just dorm residents." 

First-term Airmen normally live in the dormitories until they are promoted to Senior Airman, but the influx of personnel has made it necessary to look at alternative measures. 

Currently there is one dorm under renovation that is scheduled to be completed by January of 2010, which will give an additional 60 plus rooms for single Airmen. 

There are also two dorms scheduled for completion in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (18-24 months after ground-breaking), which wing leadership is looking at pulling forward to begin construction earlier. 

"We are working with the New Mexico Congressional delegation to accelerate the timeline of this program as much as possible," said Col Stephen Clark, 27th Special Operations Wing commander. "These brand new dormitories will ensure that our Airmen are comfortable while in garrison and improve their quality of life." 

Wing leadership is also actively engaged with the local community as well, rallying their support, Chief Baez stated, saying, "(Col. Stephen Clark, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, and Col. Steven Kimball, 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group commander) are meeting with city leaders, elected officials and the Clovis Housing Task Force to discuss the issues and foster successful partnerships." 

Regarding the housing of two Airmen in the same room in Dorms 550 and 555, wing leadership said that it is not a permanent solution, but instead the best interim solution.

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