Team Travis: Take pride in what you do Published Sept. 4, 2008 By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Travis it's Friday, Friday, Friday! I'm looking forward to this weekend of relaxation and spending time with Charlene and Dominique. Last week I had a conversation with a general officer; during our discussion he asked me what I thought were the biggest three challenges our Airmen face today. My response was, front line supervision, taking care of their families in the mist of deployments and extended duty hours and the myriad of changes we're experiencing. Changes that have caused internal and external challenges; challenges that have resulted in an institution charged with getting back to the basics. I realize our Airmen have faced challenging times before; actually we've confronted challenges since our inception and always seem to prevail. But how did we arrive at this particular juncture: contract disputes, drastically reducing the force, flying nuclear weapons over American soil, inability to purchase new tankers and more. We are American Airmen charged with protecting and defending this great nation in air, space and cyberspace. We're the only uniformed military service that's capable of operating simultaneously in those three specific domains. Yet, there are problems to fix, challenges to meet and trust to be restored; and that my friend will require leadership and pride. The essence of returning to the basics requires leadership. Leadership is within all of us, from the commanders down to the lowest ranking Airman including our civilians, we're all leaders. Our Chief of Staff General Swartz said it the best, "Regardless of our age, background, experience or level of education, each of us has a gut-level of instinct about leadership and every one must be a leader." There's nothing that this great institution can't overcome, however, it will require compliance from every Airman. We need to get out of the habit of discussing the problems without actively providing a solution. Getting back to the basics is not a difficult task, to achieve, but it can't be accomplished without a commitment from every Airman. Every week I rack my brain trying to discover or materialize the right message to convey to you, hoping my articles will remind you of why we serve, modify a behavior, provide some inspiration or simply be the catalyst for conversation. At the end of the day, that stimulus must come from within and that stimulus is pride. Proud of being an American Airman in the greatest Air Force ever assembled. "Regardless of grade, job or specialties every one contributes, no one has greater value to our collective mission than another, we should be proud of what we do for America, our families and our Air Force" ... I could not have captured it any better than that, thank you General Swartz. Our core values of Integrity First, Excellence in all We Do and Service Before Self should guide our every action to ensure we have the correct focus, directing us back to the basics. Team Travis as always; enjoy your weekend, be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus.