GAO Report Reveals 5,000 Duty Days Lost Due to Medical Travel for Cannon AFB Troops

Troops stationed at Cannon Air Force Base have lost a significant number of duty days due to the necessity of traveling long distances for medical care, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The findings highlight that service members at Cannon AFB spent over 5,000 duty days in travel and waiting for medical services outside their installation in fiscal year 2025. Some personnel had to make trips as far as 350 miles each way, which not only disrupted their work schedules but also incurred substantial financial costs.

The report underscores the broader challenges faced by remote military installations in providing essential support services such as healthcare and childcare. Cannon AFB officials reported that the Defense Health Agency spent approximately $28 million on medical care outside the base's immediate vicinity during fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with nearly half of this expenditure occurring in 2025 alone. Additionally, the base incurred roughly $587,000 in reimbursable patient travel expenses due to a lack of on-site medical services.

The GAO's investigation focused on nine remote and isolated military installations across different branches of service, identifying common issues such as difficulty recruiting qualified healthcare professionals and shortages of specialized medical care. At Cannon AFB, the low pay for medical positions was cited as a primary obstacle in attracting and retaining skilled personnel. This staffing issue extends beyond healthcare to encompass childcare and recreational services, affecting morale and operational readiness.

Retention rates at Cannon AFB have been noted as below average compared to service-wide averages, with officials attributing part of this trend to the challenges associated with accessing critical support services like medical care. While the report does not definitively link medical travel directly to lower retention rates, it highlights how inadequate on-base healthcare can impact overall mission readiness through lost duty hours and reduced operational efficiency.

Service members at Cannon AFB and other installations frequently had to take time off work for medical appointments, often requiring a full day or more of absence. This pattern of absenteeism due to the need for off-site medical care underscores the broader systemic issues faced by remote military bases in delivering comprehensive support services to their personnel.

The GAO's report also critiques the Defense Department’s current approach to defining and addressing challenges at remote installations. As of May 2026, only the Army and Navy had completed formal designation processes for identifying remote and isolated facilities, while the Air Force and Space Force had yet to make such designations. The report recommends that DOD update its criteria for classifying these bases to better measure the adequacy of critical support services and address civilian workforce reductions.

In response to the GAO's findings, the Department of Defense has concurred with both recommendations aimed at refining definitions and examining the impact of staffing shortages on remote installations. These measures are seen as crucial steps towards enhancing operational readiness and improving quality of life for service members stationed in isolated areas.