• Travis helps battle blazes off base

    When one of the biggest fires in an off-base city's recent history raged, Travis firefighters helped.Fourteen firefighters from Travis were involved Aug. 27 in a seven-alarm fire in Fairfield, more than five miles from the base's front gate. The 40-acre blaze decimated five homes and left at least

  • How will you shape your image in history?

    Among the many mementos in my office is a small black and white picture about the size of a dollar bill. With the help of my Air Force historian brother, Rich Guinan, it was determined the picture was likely taken at Fort Bliss, Texas, circa 1923. I first came across the picture while stationed at

  • Inspiration comes from unexpected sources

    All of us have encountered an inspiring person or people at some time or another in our lives, someone who provided guidance or played a key role in shaping our futures. Two individuals have had a profound effect on me during the past 10 years of my career. One is retired Chief Master Sgt. of the

  • Commander's perspective on PT success

    As a wing commander, I've seen a lot of Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment program results in the past few years. Unfortunately, I've also seen my share of Airmen who did not meet our standards and were separated from the Air Force. After analyzing so many results, I've formed a couple strongly

  • Acting SecAF tours Travis

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning visited Travis Air Force Base Aug. 22 and 23 to witness the mission first-hand and engage Airmen in a discussion about the most pressing issues facing the Air Force today.The most senior leadership of the Department of the Air Force is comprised of two

  • Meet MATT: Dummy helps train DGMC

    In a recent exercise on base here, MATT suffered from a leg amputation following an earthquake that took down the base theater. A security forces Airman came to his aid and applied a tourniquet that successfully controlled the bleeding from the life-threatening injury.After the self-aid buddy care,

  • Sincere passion: Driver of selfless, infectious energy

    "Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man." - Lyndon B JohnsonVolunteerism is the principle of donating time

  • Working as team makes mission

    In a 79-second address to his football team, coach Bo Schembechler delivered one of the most well-known motivational speeches ever given. It was simply about the team. He warned against individualism and the tendency for members of a team to think of themselves rather than to think of and work as a

  • Pull the trigger: Training applies in different scenarios

    Do you remember what you were thinking when you had to go qualify on the M-16 rifle? The things that came to my mind were: I hoped I made it to class on time, I hoped the instruction part went quickly so we could get to the shooting part, I hoped I shot better than the security forces person beside

  • Noted veteran in Travis community dies

    Travis lost one of its most memorable characters on base, an United States Army Air Corps veteran who refused to replace his typewriter for a computer. On Aug. 5, retired Master Sgt. Joseph Rowan, the former long-time director of the Retiree Activities Office, died. Rowan, who was 90 years old, died