Team Travis: congratulations on an outstanding year! Published Dec. 13, 2007 By Col. GI Tuck 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- During the past six months as an honored member of Team Travis, I continue to stand in awe of all the milestones we have achieved, especially in accomplishing the Air Force's number one priority -- fighting and winning the Global War on Terror and preparing for the next war. The Air Force mission has evolved over time and just this year alone, Team Travis has had a big role in prosecuting the War on Terror. Hopefully you will agree with the statistics below illustrating why we are not only the best Air Force in the world, but the best Air Force ever! Currently, the Air Force has more than 32,000 Airmen deployed across the globe, 25,000 of those are deployed in the CENTCOM area of responsibility supporting the Global War on Terror. We fly more than 250 daily operational sorties in Iraq and Afghanistan and have flown more than 80,000 sorties this past year alone! Focusing solely upon Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 200 airlift sorties are executed, lifting in excess of 1,000 tons of cargo and 2,500 passengers supporting the frontline war-fighter every single day! Since Sept. 11, our Aero-Medical Evacuation mission is responsible for lifting more than 46,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines out of harm's way and into the hands of our world-class Aeromedical Staging Facility, medical centers, and field hospitals just like Travis' very own David Grant USAF Medical Center. We continue to support 59 locations throughout CENTCOM, with missions originating from 10 bases within the AOR. You've helped eliminate the need for numerous convoys while establishing a record-setting airlift standard and you are saving lives! For those of you who didn't have the opportunity to hear our commander, Air Mobility Command, General Arthur J. Lichte's Airlift/Tanker Association briefing during this year's convention, he said, "Around the world on average, one U.S. Air Force air mobility aircraft takes off or lands every 90 seconds." Every day of this past year, Team Travis Airmen and our civilians have maxed performed both here and in the AOR, working extremely hard in supporting our chief's number one priority! In every occasion this past year, Team Travis rose to the top due to your hard work, dedication and perseverance. So far during 2007, we have deployed more than 3,200Airmen, off-loaded more than 9 million gallons of fuel, and moved 34,000 tons of cargo and more than 32,000 passengers. All this from more than 8,000 sorties equating to 39,300 flying hours ... unbelievable! This type of Herculean effort has led to Team Travis' recognition through more than 270 individual and team awards at the AMC and Air Force-level. These numbers are the result of our most precious resource; our Airman's combined efforts within Team Travis! You did this and Bravo Zulu for a job superiorly well done! I'm extremely proud to serve with such incredible leaders and professionals. Your example of Airmanship has shined through with your unwavering dedication to service and your unrelenting thirst for excellence. You should all be proud of your achievements over these past years ...other wings have taken notice! One final note during this holiday season, please ensure you make every effort to spend time with friends and loved ones. Keep close those who are deployed or away this time of year. As we usher in a new year, please look after each other and be safe! On behalf of Colonel and Mrs. Arquiette and Chief and Mrs. Williams, Susie and I wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year. See you in 2008! Big, Proud and Strong!