Future community leaders tour Travis

  • Published
  • By David Talley
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Future community leaders recently gained insight into Team Travis during a visit to the base that included a meeting with all three wing commanders, rides in an aircraft simulator and a contingency response group security forces demonstration and 60th Security Forces Squadron military working dog demonstration.

The event was part of Leadership Vacaville and Leadership Today, two programs designed to give current and future leaders an in-depth look at their local communities. 

Leadership Today represents Fairfield and Suisun City. The programs each run for ten months, and leaders spend one day each month learning about a unique part of their community. The Armed Forces day visit to Travis was organized by Lt. Col. Alex Berger, 570th Global Mobility Readiness Squadron commander, who is also a participant in the Leadership Vacaville program.

Colonel Berger applied for the program upon the recommendation of Col. Anthony Hinen, 615th Contingency Response Wing commander who had been involved in similar programs at other bases. The Leadership Vacaville Class of 2008 started last August.

This is the second year of the program and the first year an active duty officer has participated in it. Maj. Rob Charlesworth, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, is also a member of the inaugural Leadership Today class.

As part of the leadership programs, both sponsored by their cities' Chambers of Commerce, participants are required to organize a community-service project that benefits the town. Colonel Berger's class is organizing "The Heart and Soul of Vacaville," an event to raise awareness of non-profit groups that work in and for Vacaville. It will also help them raise money for an endowment started by Leadership Vacaville Class of 2007 that benefits non-profit groups working in Vacaville.

Colonel Berger admits to getting much more out of the program then he originally imagined. His original goal was simply to represent Travis and remind the leaders that few things happen at Travis that don't affect surrounding communities and that military personnel are integrated into their community as well: their children attend school with their children; they shop in the same local businesses.

However, he has also learned much about Vacaville.

"Its history is very interesting," he said. "For example, the area's rich soil and proximity to rail lines made it at one time the fruit center of the United States."

He has also become more sensitive to knowing the many competing interests and priorities that city council members must consider when making decisions that affect the community.

Most importantly, he learned there are many dedicated leaders who work tirelessly to improve their community and make it a great place to live.

"I feel more connected to Vacaville than any other community I've lived in," he said. "And I feel that the others in my program better understand the unique challenges we face as military members living in their community."