Commander's Trophy winners

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Brugman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Operations Support Squadron and the 60th Equipment Maintenance Squadron dominated other units to take home the Commander' s Trophy. 

The 60th OSS had 278 points - one hundred and two points more than the nearest contender-- to take home the small unit trophy while the 60th EMS had a total of 175 points for the large unit. 

"All the squadrons were extremely competitive this past year, so winning the Commander' s Trophy is very special," said Maj. Sandy Richardson, 60th EMS commander. 

Squadrons earn points for competing in various events such as the Halloween fun run or intramural sports. 

"It's a way to get the commander and the rest of unit into what their people are doing," said Natalie Berger, special events coordinator. "It's a way for the whole unit to know each other from the top to the bottom -- they're a team." 

The 60th OSS exemplified the spirit of teamwork, according to Ms. Berger.
"The 60th OSS in general -- whatever it was they were in -- they were full of heart and it showed because they won," Ms. Berger said.
Winning was Lt. Col. Bryan Watt's, 60th OSS commander, goal from the outset. 

"If you win three years in a row you get to keep the trophy," he said. "That was the close end target -- so we could walk away with the hardware." 

The 60th OSS already has one permanent trophy from their win two years ago. They're working on keeping a second. Although, the hardware is not the only incentive for participating in the Commander' s Trophy competition according to Colonel Watt. 

"I think in my mind the whole idea of competition is doing something other than being in the high ops tempo; it builds esprit de corps, teamwork and it lets off steam," he said. 
"I'm developing a team of individuals who have a way to relieve stress and build teamwork." 

"During the events, you can see the rivalry, but in the long run it's just good fun," Ms. Berger said.