Pancakes for airmen

Cannon Air Force Base’s 27th Special Operations Wing Chief Master Sergeant's Group was able to reinstate an annual tradition after taking a year off.

The squadron hosts a Chief’s Pancake Breakfast which serves as a fundraiser. Chief Master Sgt. Gary Glover, 3rd Special Operations Squadron, said last year was booked solid and there was no time for the event.

Chief master sergeants from across the base gathered Jan. 28 to make a breakfast of pancakes and hashbrowns for the airmen.

Glover said the pancake breakfast is one of about three the squadron hosts each year. The money raised by all of the fundraisers goes back into the base, Glover said, as it’s used for things like block parties, ice breakers or airman leadership training.

Tickets were $5 and Glover said most supervisors purchased tickets for airmen in their squadrons.

“It’s pretty good to give back to them,” Glover said. “They’re the ones that work hard.”

Airmen 1st Class Dwayne Remolado said it was a joy to eat home cooked food.

“We don’t get to often,” he said.

Remolado said that the chiefs’ cooking for the airmen is their way of bridging the gap between the officers and those in the enlisted ranks.

“There’s a predetermined stereotype that they won’t talk to you or anything. They’re making an attempt. It’s a good thing to boost moral.”

Remolado also said that Cannon, as a small Air Force base, is unique in how close the personnel come to be.

Staff Sgt. Tara Sheaib said that her first sergeant purchased her ticket for her.

“It’s just nice,” she said. “It’s just us helping each other.”

Senior Airman Whitney Davis said she was glad that the money raised from the breakfast goes back into the base.

“They do a lot of stuff for us. It comes back to us in some kind of way and I love it,” she said.