Honorary commanders gain operational insight

The 27th Special Operations Wing hosted seven of its honorary commanders for a day of mission orientation, operations familiarization and interactive field training, Aug. 22 at Cannon Air Force Base.

USAF: Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal

U.S. Air Force Col. William West, 27th Special Operations Group commander, and Lt. Col. Kenneth Pedersen, 551st Special Operations Squadron, lead Cannon's honorary commanders at the beginning of their tactical ground move Aug. 22 at Melrose Air Force Range.s Alexxis Pons Abascal

The 27 SOW Honorary Command Program is geared toward fostering military pride and local support from a broad group of surrounding community ambassadors. The goal of the program is to have all honorary commanders visit each group on base in order to develop a deeper understanding of the mission over their year-long tenure.

The distinguished visitors were warmly welcomed at Cannon's Visitors Center by Col. William West, 27th Special Operations Group commander and Col. David Piech, 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group commander, before heading to the 16th Special Operations Squadron to kick off their tour.

Upon arriving at the squadron, which boasts an impressive historical lineage, Lt. Col. Tracy Onufer, 16 SOS commander, provided a tour of the facility before a brief of the day's itinerary. The objective of the day was to best simulate "a day in Afghanistan" for Cannon's guests.

After the presentation, the group flocked to the flightline for a static display of one of Air Force Special Operations Command's most historic aircraft — the AC-130H Spectre gunship. The honorary commanders gained insight into the aircraft's many capabilities and countless feats in past and present global conflicts.

Once the static tour ended, the group boarded one of Cannon's M-28 Skytrucks for an aerial tour of Melrose Air Force Range. Shortly after the Skytruck landed on the range, the group was met by a Humvee convoy and allowed to gear up in battle armor for a tactical ground move with an armed escort of gunships flying overhead.

The convoy transported the group to an observation post where each honorary commander took turns giving commands to the aircraft overhead to provide air-to-ground firing on designated targets.

Once the cease-fire order was issued, the group loaded back on the Humvees and was escorted back to the Skytruck for airlift back to base.

"This entire experience has been humbling and eye-opening," said Gayla Brumfield, 27 SOW honorary commander. "Everything we witnessed today was so precise and tactfully executed. All of these first-hand demonstrations have helped us further appreciate how much men and women serving our country really do to keep us safe — especially our airmen at Cannon."