Getting back to basics Published Nov. 1, 2007 By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Wow! What a busy week preparing for and entertaining the Commander in Chief Installation Excellence inspection team Wednesday and launching them home to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., early Thursday morning. Team Travis leadership was extremely impressed at how great our installation looked during the team's visit. We are overwhelmingly proud of how hard and diligently everyone worked to bring it all together. Thanks for rolling up your sleeves and getting it done! However, we still have some things we need to focus on. Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Airlift/Tanker Association convention. While there, I had a discussion with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley where he pleaded for our assistance in refocusing our Airmen. "We must get back to the basics of good order and discipline. Standards provide a framework for attention to detail while discipline ensures accountability," he said. We've witnessed an increasing lapse in discipline and adherence to standards. The number of alcohol-related incidents has skyrocketed. I attribute this inappropriate behavior to the lack of discipline. It's a privilege to be an Airman in our great Air Force. The American people trust and expect us to maintain the highest level of standards and discipline. And, because we are Airmen, we will be held responsible and accountable for our actions. We need our wingmen to make tough responsible choices to prevent their fellow Airmen from falling prey to uncompromising situations. Commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and front-line supervisors can't win this campaign single-handedly; we require assistance from our E-1s through E-5s in getting this message across. Leadership can't break through the friendship and peer pressure barriers saturating our younger generation, and emails, banners and slogans will not do! Our Airmen must accept responsibility to do the right thing! I realize doing the right thing is sometimes uncomfortable, but we can't turn a blind eye to violators of standards and discipline. For example, while the vice wing commander and I were riding around base Tuesday, we stopped at a stop sign and directly across from the vehicle stood an Airman in uniform. As he turned his back to the car, without saluting, I noticed his jacket was unzipped. I asked Col. GI Tuck to pull over near the Airman so he and I could have a chat. I approached the Airman, introduced myself, politely suggested he zip his jacket or take it off and then said, "When you recognize a vehicle with a placard it front of it depicting the rank of a colonel or above, you should render a salute. Did you notice the placard?" He replied, "No sir," while simultaneously saluting Colonel Tuck. Where was the discipline? Where was the attention to detail? Every Airman must adhere to our core values and lead by example, while demonstrating a professional image for Airmen to emulate. Throughout our Air Force history a common thread emerges for our longstanding success -- adherence to standards and discipline. Let's get back to the basics as we win the Global War on Terrorism, develop and care for our Airmen and their families and recapitalize the force. Thank you again for your outstanding efforts with the inspection! Team Travis, have a great weekend, be safe, make responsible choices and I will see you around campus!