Friday, September 26, 2025 l Vol. 50, Number 39
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
INCIRLIK AIRMEN Page 2
307TH BOMB WING Page 3
CBRN TRAINING Page 4
TAILWIND
TRAVIS
A product of Daily Republic
READY
TO ROLL Senior Airman Keegan Putman/U.S. Air Force file
Capt. Matthew Szabo, 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, prepares to taxi before taking off for a combined air operation with Egyptian air force F-16s in support of exercise Bright Star 25 at Cairo West Air Base, Egypt, Aug. 31.
Bright Star 25 is a long-running multinational exercise that strengthens regional security cooperation, enhances interoperability and improves joint readiness among U.S., Egyptian and partner nation forces.
Travis civic leaders joins others at AF Academy, Lackland Air Force Base Tour Alex L. Haynes
SPECIAL TO TAILWIND
“Their legacy is etched into the hearts of our nation, inspiring us to stand tall in the face of adversity,” said Erick Fierro, 60th Air Mobility Wing executive director. “And to the families, your perseverance is a living testimony to love, loyalty and devotion.” The culminating event was the 24-hour remembrance run, which began Thursday and concluded Friday morning. Participants carried the U.S. and POW/MIA flags around the
FAIRFIELD – U.S. Air Force Gen. Johnny Lamontagne, Air Mobility Command commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jamie Newman, AMC command chief, recently concluded AMC’s fall civic leader tour. “Our readiness relies on the support of the communities surrounding our installations,” Lamontagne said. “It’s important that civic leaders understand how we grow an airman – officer or enlisted – and the role they play in strengthening those bonds.” The tour brought together 28 civic leaders from across the country – two from Travis Air Force Base – along with alumni from previous classes, to strengthen an understanding of how the Air Force “makes an airman.” The group spent time with cadets and instructors at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to learn how the academy combines academics, character-building and leadership training to prepare the next generation of officers. The civic leaders then boarded a KC-46 Pegasus and flew to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, home of Air Force Basic Military Training. There, they observed the graduation ceremony on Patriot Day, witnessing new airmen officially join the ranks of the U.S. Air Force. The tour, held Sept. 10-12, offered civic leaders a direct connection to the heritage and pride of the service. “The second and third days of the AMC Civic Leader tour at Lackland AFB were inspiring and encouraging,” said Zen Hunter-Ishikawa, a civic leader representing Travis AFB. “As a contrast to the prior day at USAF Academy in Colorado, this trip showcased the range of activities undertaken by students and instructors – from basic training to highly specialized enlisted in- flight airmen trades. The visit demonstrated clearly the breadth of USAF preparedness.” Hunter-Ishikawa, the chief business
See POW, Page 6
See Civic, Page 4
Brian Collett/U.S. Air Force file
Airmen assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing run in the night portion of the 24-Hour Remembrance Run at Travis
Air Force Base, Sept. 19. Team Travis honored prisoners of war, service members still missing and their families.
Travis Air Force Base hosts POW/MIA Remembrance Week 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Team Travis commemorated National POW/MIA Recognition Day with a week of remembrance events honoring prisoners of war, those still missing in action, and their families, Sept. 15-19. Throughout the week, the Travis AFB’s Air Force Sergeants Association organized an opening ceremony, ruck march and valor challenge with team obstacles. Each event honored
the sacrifice of service members while uniting the base community in remembrance. Nationally observed on the third Friday of September, POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 to honor those held captive and those unaccounted for from past conflicts. According to the Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), more than 80,000 U.S. service members remain missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War and other conflicts.