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AFSOC commander: A different sound of freedom flies over Cannon

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE, BASE, N.M. --  Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster's visit here Jan. 28-30 marked his first as the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. 

General Wurster, who took command of AFSOC in November 2007, toured the base and Clovis to meet with Airmen and community leaders in town. 

"I am impressed with what I've found out here," said the general. "It's a beautiful base; it's got great facilities. It's going to be terrific for our mission." 

The general discussed the reasons AFSOC chose Cannon for its new mission, which included being near the West Coast and Melrose Range, as well as the mild weather. 

"We are slated to grow in AFSOC, and the environment we have at (Hurlburt Field, Fla.) just doesn't permit us to expand that base anymore," General Wurster said. 

For Airmen who are curious about what changes to expect since Cannon's transition to the AFSOC mission, General Wurster reminds them that they are still a part of the U.S. Air Force. 

"Our core values are the same. Integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. All of us as Airmen have that bred into our DNA," said the general. "The difference between (AFSOC) and (ACC) is scope and size." 

In addition to deploying in smaller numbers than their ACC counterparts, people within AFSOC generally also deploy in a slightly less-structured manner than Airmen are used to with AEF cycles, the general said. 

Special operations missions are also often accomplished under the cover of night, said the general, as well as stay in the air longer during their sorties. For the communities surrounding Cannon, this means they might hear more aircraft noise in the evenings as training missions are flown. However, because many of the aircraft expected to be assigned here are propeller-driven aircraft instead of jet engines, the general commented that the noise should not be very obtrusive to the local populace. 

"It's a different sound of freedom than jet noise, but it's the same concept," the general said. 

General Wurster also spoke highly of the support Cannon receives from the surrounding communities. 

"The community and this base are connected and the relationships are excellent."

They're doing everything right and there's nothing that I would ask them to change," said General Wurster. 

Finally, General Wurster left Cannon Airmen with a bit of advice that he also applies to his own life. "Treat people the way your mom taught you to and stay focused on your job," he said.

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