The Power of Partnership Published Oct. 4, 2010 By Col. Jim Vechery 60th Air Mobility Wing Commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Have you ever noticed that little line painted on the street right outside of the main gate? On one side it says "base," and on the other, "city." Around our work places, housing, and flight line is a fence marking the perimeter of Travis Air Force Base. There are obvious physical attributes that let the outsider know this is an active Air Force base. It would appear this military installation is an island of sorts, but Team Travis knows the truth. The truth is our boundaries at Travis Air Force Base extend far beyond the chain link fence, and out into the communities that surround us. And the community's partnership and support extends on base and influences the lives of our Airmen and their families. This overlapping and interwoven bond is the hallmark of this partnership we call Team Travis. I place great faith in the partnerships we enjoy in our Travis Community. These partnerships don't just happen without the professional manner in which our Airmen conduct themselves on and off duty. Our community is proud of its Airmen, and we are proud to be members of this community. Winning Air Mobility Command's "Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award" is a gleaming example of what a base and surrounding community can accomplish together. The evaluation team marveled at our mission accomplishments, green initiatives, and commitment to families, just to name a few, and they couldn't have come at a better time as we celebrated Travis Week 2010 with our Solano partners. It was truly an amazing time with so many "marquee" events like the California Capital Airshow, the Air Force Ball, and the Team Travis Block Party that were designed to celebrate our partnerships on and off base. In fact, quite a few people remarked to me that they had never seen anything close to what you all were able to put together in the past few weeks. Simply put, Travis Week 2010 will go down in the history books for Travis AFB as an incredibly successful time of sharing our many blessings with the entire Team Travis family. For another perspective, events like the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, also remind us of the importance of community and partnerships. Strong communities and partnerships foster an environment free of violence, hate and terror. Admittedly, no one is immune to tragedies like the one at Fort Hood, but I am confident the partnerships you have developed with our local community have made our hometown safer. Last week, we held a Threat Response Exercise simulating a terrorist attack on base. The goal was to test our capabilities and procedures in response to an attack involving base, community, and national agencies. These exercises help prepare us for an attack and serve as a reminder that everyone is responsible for safeguarding the Team Travis family! The Eagle Eyes program exists because everyone is a sensor and it is our responsibility to protect this installation and our family members from people who want to do us harm. The Team Travis family is built on a legacy of excellence. It's obvious this legacy can only survive with the steadfast partnerships you have helped build and protect. This is your base, your community, and your team. You are the face of Team Travis.