Program helps airmen adjust to NM life

PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE) – As Clovis and Portales prepare for an influx of airmen coming to Cannon Air Force Base, the communities are getting ready to help the newcomers integrate into the cities.

The Airmen and Family Readiness Center recently reached out to the Clovis/Curry County and Roosevelt Count Chambers of Commerce to start a new program called 'Adopt an Air Commando.'

“We just started creating the program and thinking about different ideas. We're trying to make airmen and their families feel more welcome," the Executive Director of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Sharon King said. "It's amazing the impact that base has on us not just economically but in many, many other ways so we need to work together to make them all happy."

The program will give airmen someone to show them around the area or give them a place to go for the holidays.

"We're going to give them options on whether they are adopted by a grandmother or grandfather type, a parent type or a peer,” King said.

King said the program is essential because Cannon’s new mission is bringing in a different type of airman.

“There’s a difference in the personality of the personnel coming to Cannon. They’re a lot more family oriented than we’ve had in the past. We’re getting so many more of them all at once,” King said.

Organizers hope to start the adoption process around March 1.

For more information you can call the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce at 575-763-3435 or the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce at 575-356-8541.