Recognizing hard work is a key to good morale Published June 21, 2007 By Col. Steve Arquiette 60th Air Mobility Wing commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- As the summertime ushers in the 14th month of my command, I continue to be impressed by the Airmen in the 60th Air Mobility Wing and our partner units. We all continue to play a critical role in the Global War on Terrorism. At home station and overseas, our Airmen are putting in long hours, going above and beyond to ensure Team Travis continues to be a glowing example of motivation in the Air Force. On Tuesday, as I toured the somber site we call Ground Zero in New York City, my mind and heart filled with emotions as I listened to our husband and wife tour guide who lost their NYC Fire Fighter son on 9/11. My mind also filled with pride knowing that Team Travis is answering the nation's call every day. It's our people that make it happen and it's our people I'd like to take a moment to discuss. During the many climate assessments, feedback sessions and candid conversations I am involved in, the morale of Team Travis Airmen is always a top concern. One concerning theme is that many of our Airmen report that they don't feel recognized often enough for the work they do. We all have busy lives consisting of work, family, deployments, training, community service and more, so it is easy to get wrapped up in our action-packed days. However, it seems that we sometimes forget to recognize those we supervise that are working day in and day out to ensure this wing continues to meet its challenging mission. Most of the time, neglecting to recognize someone else's work isn't a selfish, purposeful omission, but rather, a result of our own time constraints. In a little over a week, we will be wrapping up the second quarter of 2007. Award nominations will be due to the groups to recognize those superior performers throughout the wing. While these are great recognition tools, your effort should not stop there. Giving someone a few minutes of your time to personally thank them for their contributions goes a long way in ensuring our people understand that they are appreciated and valued. Strong morale is essential for a successful win and often a simple and public "thank you" is all it takes to keep an Airman's spirits high during the long days on the job. We all recognize the fact that this is not an easy time for the Air Force and the Airmen serving in it, but the hard work of the quality Airmen and people of Team Travis is greatly appreciated. Thank you and please, keep up the outstanding work! BE PROUD! BE SAFE!