U.S. Air Force Col. Tony Bauernfeind, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Paul Henderson, 27 SOW command chief, help cut the Air Force birthday cake Sept. 14, 2013 at the Air Force Ball held at the Clovis Civic Center in Clovis, N.M. The Air Force Ball is an annual celebration held in honor of the day the Air Force became a separate branch of service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ericka Engblom)