Friday, January 23, 2026 l Vol. 51, Number 4
SERVING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY OF SOLANO COUNTY
WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING Page 2
EXERCISE GILDED CAGE Page 5
AFFORGEN Page 6
TAILWIND
TRAVIS
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ACTION
Staff Sgt. James Fritz/U.S. Air Force file
A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing lines up on the flightline at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa., Jan. 2. The C-17 is capable
of rapid strategic delivery of troops and cargo to main operating bases or to forward bases in deployment areas.
AMOS airmen conduct Exercise Jersey Turnpike Lt. Col Michael Gargano
621ST AIR MOBILITY OPERATIONS SQUADRON
Roderick Tapnio/U.S. Air Force
2nd Lt. Chavis Kendrick, second from left, takes the oath of office at Officer Training School.
Travis airman earns officer commission after eight attempts Roderick Tapnio
60TH MEDICAL GROUP PUBLIC AFFAIRS
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — After eight persistent attempts, a former enlisted airman from the 60th Medical Group has earned his commission, proving that perseverance and dedication can overcome any obstacle. 2nd Lt. Chavis Kendrick was recently commissioned through the Officer Training School after being selected for the line officer program. Growing up in Miami and later Goose Creek, South Carolina, Kendrick’s early life instilled a strong work ethic. Before joining the Air Force,
he balanced high school with lawn services and assisting his father’s catering business. He initially considered a degree in hospitality and retail management but chose the Air Force to avoid student loan debt, following the advice of his father, a Navy veteran. Kendrick’s journey to becoming an officer was far from easy. “My main motivation initially was where I came from and my faith in God,” Kendrick said. Losing his mother at 12 years old fueled his desire to be a role model for his siblings. This drive, coupled with his Air Force experience, solidi-
fied his ambition to one day become a squadron commander. Despite setbacks, including initially failing the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test, Kendrick refused to give up. He said his wife and two sons became his driving force, pushing him forward even when he questioned his path. He credits his family, mentors, and fellow airmen for their unwavering support. Kendrick’s persistence extended to refining his application package over eight attempts. He sought mentorship, improved his test scores, and gained valuable experience at See Travis, Page 6
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Drawing on lessons from real-world events in the Middle East, air mobility specialists completed a three-day crisis simulation at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Dec. 3-5, 2025. Experts from the 621st Air Mobility Operations Squadron and its reserve counterpart, the 514th AMOS, participated in the exercise dubbed Jersey Turnpike. The training immersed participants in a high-stakes scenario inside a specialized facility that replicates an Air Operations Center (AOC) which serves as the nerve center for U.S. air missions. “When a crisis erupts anywhere in the world, the AMOS is the team that gets the call,” said Lt. Col. Michael Gargano, the air refueling control team chief. “We have to be ready to deploy at a moment’s See Jersey, Page 6
Courtesy photo
Lt. Col. Brad Seehawer and Maj. Stephen Lin, both serving with 321st Air Mobility Operations Squadron, and Lt. Col. Alex Vlakancic, 514th AMOS, monitor air refueling on the 613th Air Operations Center floor. The Total Force AMOS increases the capability of the Air Mobility Division to plan and execute aroundthe-clock mobility missions to support the fighter, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft during exercises and contingencies.