Enjoy Labor Day weekend safely

  • Published
  • By Col. G.I. Tuck
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It is hard to believe that the summer is already coming to a close. Starting Aug. 31, most of us will enjoy well deserved time off in conjunction with the Labor Day weekend.

Traditionally, this weekend signifies the end of the "101 Critical Days of Summer," the period the Air Force sees the most mishaps/fatalities. And we didn't have a perfect record this summer. 

The 615th Contingency Response Wing lost an Airman, warrior, brother and friend to a motocross accident and Team Travis posted its highest DUI rates in the past several years. In fact, alcohol-related incidences have quadrupled the number of DUI's we've experienced this year altogether. 

This message serves as a reminder to enjoy next weekend, as you certainly deserve the break, but do it safely, smartly and with a focus on our wingman culture - taking care of each other out there!

If you are not sure what you'd like to do during this holiday weekend, let me highlight some of the great area activities available on- and off - base to you and your families. 

Within 200 miles of Travis, you'll find Napa's wine country, the Pacific Ocean, the giant sequoias, and Mendocino anchored to our west. San Francisco, Oakland Bay, Pebble Beach, and Monterey are firmly to our south and with Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park to our north and southeast respectively. 

We are lucky to be stationed in one of the most popular tourist locations in the United States and I hope as you "fill up the gas tank" to provide world-class support to the war fighter, you also find time to rest and play in a region with much to offer.

Your 60th Services Squadron works very hard to provide organized trips, equipment and discounted tickets to many popular locations and venues. Outdoor Recreation offers white water rafting trips in the summer and ski trips in the winter along with various hiking trips. They can even outfit you with rental equipment!

Just north of San Francisco, at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge is our own Travis Marina. The marina offers great discounted sailing trips along the San Francisco Bay as well as lessons for our military members and their families. 

Visit www.60thservices.com for details on many great opportunities and upcoming events. 

The California State Fair at Cal Expo is ongoing in Sacramento until Sept. 3. Visit www.bigfun.org for more information. I encourage each of you to take time to enjoy the area while you are here.

Please enjoy the four-day weekend at the end of next week. Take advantage of the many attractions in our area, but do them smartly so that we can all come back refreshed, recharged, and most important, safe.

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!