The Essence of Being a Travis Airman

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Oscar Vaughn
  • 60th Services Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As I write this article to the outstanding men and women of Travis, my mind goes back to all that has transpired since our last conversation. In the past few months Team Travis has done some incredible things, including winning "Best of the Best" at Rodeo 2007, and winning a very rare but well-deserved "Outstanding" from the Air Mobility Command Inspector General during the Operational Readiness Inspection.

What you have done in 2007 has been nothing short of spectacular. Sustained excellence is part of the essence - the core competency - of being a Travis Airman. You've heard this repeatedly, but you are some of the best men and women our country has to offer, and we are a better, stronger nation for your service.

Yet, as we bask in the glow of our shared successes, the last year has also brought some other, more disturbing, realities to light for Travis Airmen. We have had to bury four of our outstanding Travis Airmen in the past five months, and six Travis Airmen this year.

Let's put this sobering detail into context. These are six young men - cherished husbands, fathers, sons or loved ones - that perished right here in the local area, and all for various reasons. As the base Mortuary Affairs Officer, there is nothing sadder to me than having to sit down with a distraught spouse, holding onto a small child for dear life, and trying to explain to her the benefits she really didn't know existed because, frankly, that conversation never took place between her and her husband. Many negative trends are up - DUIs, pending courts-martials, shoplifting and domestic incidents.

I need my team - Team Travis Airmen - to take a deep breath and focus on that which makes you some of our nation's best, your self-discipline and attention to detail. That should be the essence of a Travis Airman. As we close out a very successful year, we need to focus on making sure we are being good Airmen and good Wingmen. Part of being a good Airman and being a good Wingman is self-discipline. As Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne put it, "Loss of focus can lead to failure: failure to execute the mission in a disciplined and accountable manner. Our Air Force and our Nation expect, need, and deserve nothing less."

You, ladies and gentlemen, make this job worthwhile. As we start the holiday season and start ramping up for our Unit Compliance Inspection in a few months, we must be mindful - Airmen, supervisors and commanders - to take care of each other. Being an Airman is a twenty-four seven proposition. If we take care of each other, the mission will be taken care of. I will close with words from our Chief of Staff:

"While we fly, fight and win, were also obliged to treasure and foster our wingman concept, to take care of each other every day, and to never forget, 'once an Airman, always an Airman.'"

Our strength - our essence - is performing as a team and taking care of one another. I thank you for your service and wish you well in all your endeavors. Team Travis - big, proud and strong!