Air Force Special Operations Command officials believe the command will need about 5,500 people to run Cannon AFB, N.M. and operate its new special operations mission. AFSOC takes over Cannon on Oct. 1, 2007, but plans to stagger the influx of AFSOC personnel over four years. According to the Clovis News Journal, in Fiscal 2007 AFSOC anticipates assigning less than 1,500, building to 5,500 by 2010. The plan, of course, hinges upon the in-progress environmental study.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…