New Year brings renewed focus on safety, readiness

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Happy New Year and welcome back from the holiday break! Many of us were afforded some well deserved time to relax with family and friends over the past couple of weeks and now it's time to set our sights on the year ahead.

While many of the geopolitical, economic and internal Department of Defense issues that will shape our activities and focus our attention in 2007 are foreseeable, many are not. CNN broadcasts often highlight the near-term demands for rapid global air mobility, such as the recent support for the final farewell to former President Gerald Ford or bolstering our troops for a possible spike in violence in Iraq following the execution of Saddam Hussein.

The year ahead will no doubt bring many challenges and triumphs.

Team Travis has always maintained a reputation as a stand-out leader in the mobility business and I, along with Brig. Gen. Mark Stearns, Brig. Gen. Thomas Gisler Jr., and Col. Anthony Hinen, expect nothing less in 2007.

There are a few things that will not change in the new year. Safety will continue to be front and center of everything we do. Fortunately, we had fewer accidents 2006 than in previous years, but even one is too many!

You'll be hearing and seeing more of the Voluntary Personal Protection safety program as we implement this year. This program is used nation-wide by industry and should enhance our mission effectiveness while driving safety mishaps much lower.

The Wingman concept will continue to play a large role in caring for each other. Our goal of zero DUIs will be bolstered by the Air Force's focus on building a Culture of Responsible Choices.

Helping our Airmen make smart decisions will curb the large number of our Airmen that chose to drink and drive in 2006 and ruined their careers and many future employment opportunities.
Fortunately they didn't kill themselves or someone else. Our Airmen remain our most valuable resource and we must do everything to protect them.

Keeping ourselves ready to deploy both physically and mentally is a must. From keeping our finances in order to maintaining our physical fitness, it is extremely important we can answer the call at a moment's notice.

Finally, we must continue to have personal and professional balance, which means having some fun while we work hard in order to kindle high morale and long-term success. It also means ensuring you take time for yourself and your family. You're no good to anyone if you're burned-out internally.

In closing, we all worked very hard last year and accomplished many things that will be honored at the MAJCOM and Air Force levels.

We'll soon hear more announcements of individual and group awards for the outstanding performers of 2006. While not everyone can win, anyone who beats us certainly was given a run for their money!

Please continue to be safe in 2007 and know that your service comes at a very important time in our nation's history -- we must be ready for those "unforeseeable" callings.

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!