Travis NCOs attend Phoenix Stripe Conference

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis it's Friday; nothing like a nice relaxing weekend to re-energize our batteries for the upcoming week. Last week I encountered a highly-energized staff sergeant who recently returned from a temporary duty at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he attended Air Mobility Command's Phoenix Stripe Professional Development Conference. Phoenix Stripe is a week-long professional development conference designed for noncommissioned officers and civilian- equivalent leaders from across the command. 

This impressive 4-star-sponsored conference was developed to provide future leaders a comprehensive operational overview of AMC's mission and key issues. AMC wing commanders personally chose sharp, professional NCOs and civilians to attend the Phoenix Stripe Conference. 

Colonel Dillon selected five; Tech. Sgt. Marcus Jones, Tech. Sgt. Tina Patterson, Staff Sgt. Robert Gray, Staff Sgt. Christopher Gerber and Staff Sgt. Joel Alvior, remarkable NCOs to attend the previous conference. I'd like to share Sergeant Alvior's perspective of his trip with you written in his own words. 

Five of us from the 60th Air Mobility Wing were selected to attend Phoenix Stripe and all returned with different stories and perceptions of the imprint the conference left on us. 

This incredible experience has made me a better person, leader, supervisor and Airman. Prior to my trip I only saw the small picture, how the units on the installation worked together. Yet, I couldn't really draw a correlation between our tenant units, numbered Air Force and Major Command - specifically Air Mobility Command. Pheonix Stripe provided me a better understanding of the synergy between the wings, tenant units, NAF and MAJCOM; the big picture we normally don't see or notice at my level. 

As a young staff sergeant, being briefed by command chiefs, colonels and one to four-star generals and having an opportunity to ask them questions was mind blowing to me. It revealed just how engaged our senior leaders are and how much they care. They took time away from their very busy schedules to brief junior NCOs and civilians on the challenges and key issues facing AMC. The key issues ranged from housing, dormitories, new aircrafts, missions, deployments, fitness, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, etc. - our leaders at all levels are listening. 

However, it all begins with us. As Sergeant Jones said, "We have to continue to be positive and have pride in what we do." Every Airman has a stake in the mission regardless of what level we're operating at; we all matter. 

I'd like to leave you with something I will never forget and will keep with me always. 

Chief Master Sgt. Henry Parker, a mentor during the conference, told us, "When you ask a member of the Army what they do, what would they say? I'm a Soldier. When you ask a member of the Marine Corps what they do, what would they say? I'm a Marine. When you ask a member of the Air Force what they do, what would we say?" I answered that question differently before, but from now on; when someone asks me what I do in the Air Force, I will proudly say "I'm an Airman!" Together we all make this Air Force the best in the world. 

Wow! Thanks Sergeant Alvior! Team Travis that's one proud Airman; are you? Have a great weekend; be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus.