Travis gears up for Air Force Week, ORI

  • Published
  • By Col. James Vechery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I am extremely impressed with the pride, passion and professionalism you display on regular basis as Airman in our United States Air Force! 

As we gear up for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection and Air Force Week Sacramento, I am reminded what exactly it means to be part of this family we call the Air Force. Whether it is a large-scale deployment, ATSO exercise or civic event, you highlight what it means to be an Airman as we serve together to protect this great nation. 

As we gear up for the ORI and exercise our "deployment machine" with the flyaway exercise, it is important to focus on our collective goals. The major goal of the flyaway is to fine-tune our processes; whether it is the deployment process or the ability to survive a chemical attack. In each area, we need to continue improving to ensure we are always ready to execute our mission. Another goal is to put our individual stovepipes of excellence together and function effectively as a winning team. We will do this by fine-tuning the Team Travis mentality resonant in our Air Force core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do! 

Finally, we need to focus on individual preparedness necessary for success in this venture. To do this, it is imperative that every Airman has five basic foundation points for success: confidence in your equipment, confidence in your training, confidence in your team, confidence in your leadership, and most importantly confidence in yourselves. 

These tenants are essential to success in any endeavor especially a major exercise like an ORI. You will develop this confidence by attacking the challenge head on and using the upcoming exercise and training opportunities to improve your warfighting skills. 

As I watch the dedicated amount of time and effort put into the ORI and Air Force Week, I am as astounded at the incredible effort and I am proud of each one of you. I understand that these events take up much of our time and energy, but also look forward to the great success that we as Team Travis will enjoy. As a family it is important that we all support and do our part to ensure that Team Travis is not only successful in this ORI and Air Force Week, but that we set the standard for other bases to follow every day. We are all in this together and we will excel as a team! I am extremely humbled to be part of this incredible team known loud and proud as Team Travis -- Air Power!