Team spruces Travis' looks Published Sept. 4, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Base Appearance Team at Travis Air Force Base is a small group with a big job. "We spruce up the entire base," said Staff Sgt. Ronald Brown, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron BAT manager. "In August, the BAT collected 190 bags of debris, to include trash at Travisville Park, the skate park and the duck pond. We collect trash from the base at a rate of approximately 50 bags per week." They are in charge of trash and debris pick-up, pulling weeds from the cracks in the pavement, hanging and removing 98 U.S. flags for holidays and special events and stage set-up and teardown for events, such as change of commands. "When you come to a base and see that it is clean and neat, you have a certain perception of that base as a whole," Brown said. "For example, coming into a work place that is cluttered presents obstacles whereas a clean work place makes it that much easier to perform the mission." The medical, maintenance, operations and mission support groups all volunteer two people each per month to help with the mission of the BAT, which is to beautify and maintain the base. Volunteers split into two teams of four and cover each half of the base daily to make sure it is clean and free of debris. The teams cover a total of 2.2 million square feet. "The BAT is a small group," Brown said. "Travis is a large base for the eight Airmen to cover, but they get it done and do a good job." Senior Airman Zachary Burns, 60th Operational Support Squadron air traffic controller and BAT apprentice, welcomes the break from his job at the tower to work outdoors and help keep the base clean. "A lot of people say that Travis is one of the nicest bases and I feel like BAT has a lot to do with it," Burns said. "We are always outside making sure everything looks good and making sure there aren't any weeds or down branches." It's a dirty job but someone has to do it. The Base Appearance Team may be small but it plays a large role in keeping Travis clean and mission ready.