Arrival

Cannon AFB is eight miles west of Clovis, with the Main Gate just off U.S. Highway 60/84 and the Portales Gate off State Highway 467. Both gates are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As far as transportation, a nearby community airport offers commuter service to Albuquerque, and a passenger bus service operates out of the Caprock Inn Lodging Office, 401 S. Olympic Blvd.

If you're a new Federal Service employee, report during normal duty hours to the Civilian Personnel Flight, 110 E. Sextant Ave., Building 600 in the Base Support Center. All new personnel must also attend the Right Start briefing at 7:30 a.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month in The Landing.

BASE INFORMATION
For up-to-date news and information about the base, visit http://www.cannon.af.mil  For directory assistance call the base operator at (575) 784-1110. For base questions contact Public Affairs at (575) 784-4131.

RIGHT START PROGRAM
Relocating always comes with a certain amount of anxiety. Contact your new unit for help and advice, and remain in contact during your relocation. For more information about Cannon, visit the Airman and Family Readiness Center at your pre-move location or go to http://www.mil itaryonesource.com or http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil and click on Plan My Move or Military Installations. Also see http://www.afcrossroads.com.

If your sponsor falls through, call the Customer Service office at DSN 681-2094, (575) 784 -2094, or the Right Start office at DSN 681-2033/4195 +The mandatory Right Start newcomer briefings for military members and DoD civilians begin at 7:30 a.m. twice a month at 211 W. Octagon Ave., Building 1820. Spouses are invited and encouraged to attend.

RIGHT START IN-PROCESSING
To initiate in-processing, new personnel must report directly to their unit administrative section during normal duty hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After duty hours,

weekends or holidays, report to the Cannon Caprock Inn lodging office, 401 S. Olympic Blvd., Building 1801. Or call (575) 784-2919/DSN 681-2919. Federal Service employees should report to Civilian Personnel at the Base Support Center in Building 600, Room 2038, 110 E. Sextant Ave., during normal duty hours, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A few numbers to remember:
• Civilian Personnel Officer/Labor Relations, (575) 784-7253/DSN 681-7253.
• Staffing/Employee Development (Commercial), (575) 784-4846/DSN 681-4846.
• Training and Employee Development/Work man's Compensation, (575) 784-4848/DSN 681-4848.

PERSONAL PROPERTY SHIPMENTS
To check on your inbound household goods, unaccompanied baggage, or to complete paperwork for a DoItYourself (DIY) move, contact the Traffic Management Office at 511 N. Torch Blvd., Building 300, Room 246, or call (575) 784-2301. To arrange for household goods pickup for PCS, contact outbound household goods at (575) 784-2302/DSN 681-2302, or stop by the office.

FIREARMS
Residents of any on-base quarters must register all firearms with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron and fill out AF Form 1314 immediately on arrival. Obtain this form from your unit orderly room. In addition, dormitory residents or anyone in billeting must store their weapons in the security forces armory. For more information, call (575) 784-4111/DSN 681-4111.

DRIVER'S LICENSES AND LAWS
New Mexico State Government: Motor Vehicle Dept.
814 West 6th St.
Clovis, NM 88101 (575) 762-3732
Written vehicle or motorcycle test: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Vehicle road test: Monday through Thursday, 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
Motorcycle road test: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
New Mexico honors all valid state license plates and driver's licenses for military members and their families but requires proof of ownership before you can register a motor vehicle. As far as expired licenses or tags, the state follows the rules of the issuing state.

AUTO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
All drivers must have auto liability insurance. Because of traditional tort laws, if you are in an accident with another driver, his or her insurance company covers your losses or you file a lawsuit to recover disputed damages for injuries and property. Therefore, all auto insurance policies must include a minimum liability of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 per accident for property.

SEAT BELTS AND CHILD RESTRAINTS
Air Force Instruction 31-204, Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision, requires seat belts for every passenger in every car or truck operated on base and manufactured after model year 1966.

As far as children, state law requires a federally approved child restraint device for 1 year olds and younger. One- to 5-year olds must also use an approved child restraint device or ride in the rear seat with a safety belt. From that point, kids must use a safety belt regardless of where they sit in the vehicle.

MOTORCYCLES
Military members, DoD/NAF civilians and their dependents riding a motorcycle on base must have a motorcycle competency card on their person. See your First Sergeant to schedule a safety course at your or your unit's expense. Before attending the course, you will need to receive a briefing from your commander. According to DoD Instruction 6055.4, military personnel must wear helmets and high-contrast reflective vests while riding motorcycles on or off base.

Wing policy also requires all military, civilian and dependent personnel operating a motorcycle, motor scooter, moped or bicycle on or off the installation to wear a reflective vest during hours of darkness (30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise). Daylight requirements include a brightly colored or contrasting vest or jacket as an outer upper garment that is clearly visible from front and back.

CIVILIAN PERSONNEL FLIGHT
This office provides civilian personnel services to Air Force Special Operations organizations and some associate units, except for AAFES, NAF, DECA, DFAS or any of the various on-base contractors. Functions include:
• negotiating labor union contracts
• advising management on and reviewing civilian disciplinary actions
• monitoring performance and awards programs
• administering injury compensation and unemployment programs
• maintaining position control rosters
• updating limited types of information in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System
The Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas, is responsible for filling vacancies, providing classification support, maintaining and updating official personnel folders, and assisting employees and answering such questions in benefit and entitlement areas as health insurance, life insurance and retirement.

BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS
The base has two financial institutions with ATMs and a full range of banking services:
Bank of America
71 D.L. Ingram Blvd.
Cannon AFB, NM 88103 (575) 784-3351

Cannon Federal Credit Union (Main Branch)
4205 N. Prince St.
Clovis, NM 88101 (575) 791-3353

POSTAL SERVICES
The dormitory manager assigns mailboxes to dorm residents when they in-process. Everyone else can use general delivery until you obtain a permanent address. On-base post offices are cash only.

General Delivery
PSC Box 9999
Cannon AFB, NM 88103

Clovis Post Office
310 West St.
Cannon AFB, NM 88103 (575) 784-2410
DSN 681-2410
Monday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. Post Office
101 W. Eureka Ave.
Cannon AFB, NM 88103 (575) 784-2410
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CLIMATE
Since Cannon sits at nearly 4,300 feet above sea level on the lee side of the Rockies, the wind blows almost constantly throughout the year. Temperatures are mild, humidity low and annual rainfall averages 16 to 18 inches. But the region also suffers dramatic and sudden weather changes, with pleasant sunny conditions one day followed by blowing snow the next.

During spring, normal temperatures reach the 60s and 70s, with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s. Winds are constant, with frequent gusts of 25 to 35 mph, as well as occasional extremely dry 50 mph dust storms.

Thunderstorm season typically starts in late April and lasts through October and brings the majority of the annual precipitation. When the summer monsoon hits, you can expect 10 to 12 cloudy days a month with thunder, lightning, rain, sometimes large hail (1/2 inch or greater) and damaging winds. Daily summer temperatures average near 90 degrees, with gentle breezes, but quick-striking late afternoon and evening thunderstorms cool things off. In autumn, high temperatures average 70 degrees and lows drop into the 40s and 50s. The winds and thunderstorms dwindle till late autumn when the winds start to blow.

Snowfall averages 13 inches each winter season, but snows seldom last beyond a few days. High temperatures average 50 degrees, with overnight lows in the 20s and 30s.  read more...