Support Network Strengthens Team Travis

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "And they lived happily ever after"... The stories we all grew up with as children and the one's I now read to my 8-year-old son at bedtime all end joyfully. It's been said that "we've been poisoned by fairy tales" - we believe in the myth that love and life is a fun-filled fantasy without any large life challenges to overcome that we can't handle ourselves.

While the stories do serve a good purpose, we all need to realize that as humans each of us needs strong personal and professional relationships to succeed in life, and handle the stresses that come our way.

Since 1990 when U.S. military forces deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm, Airmen have continuously supported Air Force and joint operations throughout the world, particularly in Southwest Asia. Many of us have deployed several times in support of these missions. Those who remain at home station pick up extra duties. For everyone, the constant changes, planned and unplanned, from an increased ops tempo, can certainly increase personal stress. How we deal with it is key to its long-term effect on us, our families, our unit and, ultimately our Air Force.

Fortunately, the Air Force and Team Travis long ago recognized the importance of creating a strong support network for Airmen and their families and encouraging those who need it to use it. This is prudent. For that reason, no one should be judged unfavorably for seeking that help.

In fact, what might have been characterized as a weakness years before should no longer be seen that way. We depend on each other far too much and so, must support each other in order to accomplish the mission. Whenever one part of the chain is weak, the entire chain is weak.

Consequently, it's important that we monitor ourselves as well as those we work with and their families so we can intervene with the appropriate assistance whenever needed. 

Consider those who work with you as a first line of support. Supervisors and superintendents can help at the unit level. The first sergeants offer a wealth of knowledge and experience they can share with anyone needing assistance. Other resources are available within the Team Travis support network. For example, the Airman Family Readiness Center offers a variety of assistance programs designed to help either an Airman or his family, whatever the need. Facing a deployment? Their Family Readiness program can help you. Having financial problems?

Their Personal Financial Management program offers a list of services designed to help you or your family deal with financial questions before they become serious problems.

The support network expands even further. As a matter of fact, Team Travis offers an array of educational, legal, health and chaplain support services -- each designed to help you remain mission ready. None of us is alone nor should we think we are. 

Recognizing that we need help or that one of our wingmen needs help goes a long way in strengthening our team. If you ever doubt that, just remember the "Big Bad Wolf" that we read about, can appear in many forms in our adult personal and professional lives; financial difficulties, alcohol abuse and dependency, dating and marital strains and many, many other ways. You may be a strong person, but at times our greatest strength comes from those who surround us. There are many caring agencies and people here at Team Travis ready to help, so use them! Our team and our Air Force will be better for it.