TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- They may not be fitted with body armor or armed with military weaponry, but the handful of Airmen who operate Travis' Official Mail Center represent a first line of defense in protecting the installation from harm.

"I don't think many people realize how crucial the mission can be here," said Master Sgt. Eric Bernhard, the OMC NCO in-charge. "We truly are the first line of defense for the base when it comes to ensuring mail is secure.

"Our Airmen are trained to identify indicators of a suspicious package and we have the equipment to check for contraband, radiation, asbestos or chemicals that could be harmful to our customers."

With Travis serving as one of Air Mobility Command's largest installations as well as hosting David Grant USAF Medical Center, the Air Force's flagship medical center, the mission of the OMC is essential to keeping base operations functional as the unit processes an average of 1,800 to 2,500 pounds of packages and official mail each week.

For the Airmen of the OMC, each day begins roughly the same.

After the packages and mail are processed, secured and sorted; the mail truck is loaded and these Airmen crisscross the base conducting deliveries to various organizations.

"I like it because we get to meet and network with a lot of other people that we otherwise wouldn't have the chance to meet," said Airman 1st Class Jahkilyah Minatee, 60th Communications Squadron administrator. "Even though it is just the mail room you really do get to see what everyone else is doing.

"If you ask me a question about a different unit, I could probably tell you the answer. It makes our job unique to have the opportunity to find out about other career fields or different aspects of the mission."

Bernhard echoed Minatee's statement, adding that the customer service side of the job is what makes it most rewarding.

"I've always been customer service oriented, having worked at various levels of wing command," he said. "I believe interacting with different squadrons, people and mentalities gives you a much broader vision of the overall mission."

Aside from deliveries, the mail center also operates a customer service section where they distribute mail for many of the smaller organizations on base.

For more information on the Travis OMC, contact their customer service line at 424-1600.