North Clovis
The default landing spot for Cannon families off-base — well-kept streets in the Mesa Elementary zone, minutes from the North Prince Street corridor's Walmart, Target, and chain restaurants. Convenient over charming.
Commute: 15–20 min
All Installations
U.S. Air Force · Clovis, New Mexico
Where Air Commandos Live
Cannon AFB is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing — Air Force Special Operations Command's tiltrotor, gunship, and remotely piloted aircraft mission on the eastern New Mexico plains. It's a small-town assignment with a high-tempo mission. Here's your first 30 days, sorted.
The Wing
AFSOC's Home on the High Plains
The 27th Special Operations Wing runs the show at Cannon: infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces, air refueling for SOF rotary and tiltrotor aircraft, and precision fire support for direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, personnel recovery, and psychological and information operations. The wing's squadrons fly the CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J, AC-130H/W gunships, MQ-1/MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, and smaller platforms like the PC-12, Do-328, and M-28 — four groups and 26 squadrons deep.
Off base, Cannon sits outside Clovis, a genuine small eastern New Mexico town — Portales and Eastern New Mexico University are a short drive south, and Lubbock, Texas is the nearest real city if you're willing to commute for it. Cost of living here runs well below the national average, and the community has decades of practice welcoming AFSOC families in and out.
It's high plains country — hot, dry summers, real winters, spring thunderstorms, and a spot on the edge of Tornado Alley that's worth taking seriously, not decorating around. Wide-open, close-knit, and unpretentious is the honest description.
Where You'll Actually Live
Pick Your Zip Code
Six real choices, from the shortest commute to the biggest trade-up in city size.
Your PCS Checklist
Get Sorted
From your first orders to closing on a house — sorted by where you actually are.
Your move:
0 of 7 done0%
Read your orders line by line
Report date, gaining command, dependent authorization, and any special instructions — mistakes here cascade into every later step.
Set up your move through the Defense Personal Property System
Schedule your household-goods counseling session and pick a move type (full move, PPM/DITY, or partial DITY).
Schedule your household goods pickup
Book your packout date with your Personal Property Office as early as your report date allows.
Update DEERS and get new dependent ID cards if needed
Confirm every family member's DEERS record is current before you leave — it gates TRICARE, base access, and commissary privileges at the new station.
Check your VA home loan entitlement before you house-hunt
Pull your Certificate of Eligibility now so you know your buying power before you start touring homes.
Confirm TRICARE coverage at your gaining region
TRICARE regions changed in 2024 — confirm your plan and provider network transfer automatically.
Military spouse with a professional license? Check reciprocity in your new state
Many states now have expedited licensure compacts for military spouses — confirm before you arrive so there's no gap in income.
Can I Afford This?
What You Can Actually Afford Here
Real basic pay, real BAH, real nearby home values — not a guess.
On the Map
Where Cannon Air Force Base Actually Sits
The installation's actual location — pan, zoom, get directions.
Where People Live
Officers, Enlisted, and Where They Land
Real, opt-in reports from people stationed here — never an exact address, just the general area.
Not enough reports yet to show a map for Cannon Air Force Base.
Every ZIP area needs at least 2 reports before it appears here — that floor keeps any single answer from being identifiable. Be one of the first to help map this base below.
Do you live near Cannon Air Force Base? Help us improve this.
Four quick questions, no login, completely anonymous. We only ever collect your general ZIP area — never your street address or name.
Local Favorites
Where You'll Actually Hang Out
Real spots around Clovis, NM — Norman Petty Studios where Buddy Holly recorded, the Hillcrest Park Zoo, and Clovis's first microbrewery.
Historic
Norman Petty Studios
The actual studio where Buddy Holly & The Crickets recorded "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" -- preserved with original equipment, tours by appointment.
Source: normanpettystudios.com + Wikipedia + Visit Clovis
Family
Hillcrest Park Zoo
New Mexico's second-largest zoo, 150+ animals across 63 species, founded 1927, military/resident discount 2nd Saturday of the month.
Source: hillcrestparkzoo.com + City of Clovis
Brewery
Red Door Brewing Co.
Clovis's first microbrewery, opened 2021 inside a bowling alley -- known for its green chili cheeseburger and local beer.
Source: Yelp + Visit Clovis eat-drink page
Restaurant
Foxy Drive-In
Retro drive-in/soda fountain, a Clovis tradition since 1956.
Source: Yelp/Tripadvisor listings
Historic
Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark
The type site of the "Clovis Culture," where the Clovis point was first identified -- National Historic Landmark since 1961, on-campus museum via Eastern New Mexico University. A short drive between Clovis and Portales, not downtown.
Source: Eastern New Mexico University / bwdarchaeology.com
Outdoor recreation
Ned Houk Memorial Park
County park north of Clovis with fishing ponds, hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping.
Source: Roosevelt/Curry-area tourism listings
Jodi's List
Veteran-Owned Around Cannon
Veteran-owned businesses around Clovis and Portales — verified listings, straight from the directory.
Listings from Jodi's List, the veteran-owned business directory.
Own a veteran business near Cannon Air Force Base?Get Listed Free →On-Base Resources
Week-One Essentials
Exchange
Commissary
Fitness Centers
Key Phone Numbers
We only publish numbers we've verified — none are on file for this installation yet. The base operator directory on the official site is the reliable source.
Live From the Installation
What's Happening On Base
Pulled from Cannon's official public channels — updated automatically.
No updates ingested for Cannon Air Force Base yet.
This feed pulls straight from the installation's official public channels once its news feed is connected — check the base's official site in the meantime.
The Playbook
Your First 30 Days
01
Lock housing before you land
Clovis and Portales have a small rental pool that moves fast every PCS cycle. Decide rent-vs-buy early — a VA loan preapproval costs nothing and strengthens every offer.
02
In-process + DEERS same week
Knock out in-processing, DEERS updates, and TRICARE region transfer in week one — everything downstream keys off it, especially in a market this small.
03
School registration early
Clovis Municipal and Portales Municipal Schools each have their own enrollment timelines — register as soon as you have an address.
04
Learn the weather, then plug in
High wind, real winters, and a spot on the edge of Tornado Alley are part of the deal here — squadron families are the fastest way to learn what that actually means season to season.
Land in Clovis With Keys in Hand
Zero-down VA loans for eligible buyers, all 50 states from day one, and Personal Bankers who understand a small-market PCS. Start before you out-process.
Subject to credit approval and VA eligibility. The Veteran Alliance is a fintech company, not a bank; banking services provided through partner institutions.
Your Next Backyard
Life beyond the gate.
Quick Question
Where are you at with housing near Cannon Air Force Base?
Local Favorites
Things to Do
Historic
Norman Petty Studios
The actual studio where Buddy Holly & The Crickets recorded "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" -- preserved with original equipment, tours by appointment.
Source: normanpettystudios.com + Wikipedia + Visit Clovis
Family
Hillcrest Park Zoo
New Mexico's second-largest zoo, 150+ animals across 63 species, founded 1927, military/resident discount 2nd Saturday of the month.
Source: hillcrestparkzoo.com + City of Clovis
Brewery
Red Door Brewing Co.
Clovis's first microbrewery, opened 2021 inside a bowling alley -- known for its green chili cheeseburger and local beer.
Source: Yelp + Visit Clovis eat-drink page
Historic
Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark
The type site of the "Clovis Culture," where the Clovis point was first identified -- National Historic Landmark since 1961, on-campus museum via Eastern New Mexico University. A short drive between Clovis and Portales, not downtown.
Source: Eastern New Mexico University / bwdarchaeology.com
Outdoor recreation
Ned Houk Memorial Park
County park north of Clovis with fishing ponds, hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping.
Source: Roosevelt/Curry-area tourism listings