73rd SOS bids farewell to Hurlburt Field Published Feb. 4, 2008 By Lt. Col. Tom Markland 27th OG HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 73rd Special Operations Squadron has departed Hurlburt Field to forge Air Force Special Operations Command's future as the first special operations flying squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. It has been a whirlwind tour as we developed and accepted a new weapon system, stood up a squadron, brought five aircraft on line and executed a unit move to a brand new special operations wing. In the finest AFSOC tradition, agencies from across the wing have repeatedly gone out of their way to help us, and our success would not have been possible without this support from our teammates across the 1st SOW. We will miss the mission focus and support of our Hurlburt teammates that made our activation possible. We are forever indebted to the 8th, 9th, 15th and 6th special operations squadron, and the 1st Special Operations Group staff who helped us when we had absolutely nothing. We owe a debt of gratitude to the civil engineers, the contractors, the communications specialists and the comptrollers who came together in a phenomenal team effort to turn the former Oasis Dining Facility into a first class operations squadron building in less than nine weeks, a truly outstanding team effort. We would also like to thank Fred Alley and all the logistics personnel who worked so diligently to successfully move more than 60 tons of squadron equipment halfway across the country. Most importantly, we would like to thank members of the former 73rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit. Undermanned and under-resourced, but entirely undaunted, you made possible a whole new AFSOC combat capability. Without your dedicated support we would have been no more than a static display. Go Team Spear! Standing up the 27th SOW is a rare and historically significant event, and it's exciting to stand at ground zero and play an active part in events that will shape the future. Opportunities abound for those who want to lead and those who want to be part of something larger than life. I can tell you first hand that Clovis, N.M., is a great community, and Cannon AFB is a great place to fly. Like any other Air Force assignment, your tour at Cannon will be whatever you choose to make it. As we look to a future with two special operations wings, the men and women of the 73rd SOS look forward to seeing many of you again at Cannon. Godspeed, Team Hurlburt.