Air Force Surgeon General visits Beale

by Senior Airman Bobby Cummings
9th Reconnaissance WIng Public Affairs

1/20/2015 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Travis, Air Force Surgeon General, visited Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Jan. 13-15, to get the latest updates on the  9th Medical Group's capabilities and accomplishments  along with the overall health of the community.

Travis oversees 75 military treatment facilities worldwide and a 42,000-person integrated health care delivery system serving 2.6 million beneficiaries.

His responsibilities include serving as the functional manager of the Air Force Medical Service. He advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Air Force communities.

Travis, along with Brig. Gen. Sean L. Murphy, command surgeon of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason Pace, Chief of the medical enlisted force, spoke with Airmen from the 9th MDG regarding the future of the AFMS.

"By concentrating on prevention and health, in addition to care, we can attain our vision that our supported population is the healthiest and highest performing segment of the US by 2025," Travis said.

In addition, the pair made numerous stops at various medical agencies to interact with Airmen.

"I am absolutely thrilled with what I see here at the 9th MDG in supporting all of the incredibly talented Airmen at Beale," Travis said. "I'm seeing bright, energetic and innovative Airmen that often times are ahead of my thinking.  The future of Air Force medicine is in great hands."

According to Travis, high operations tempo and unique intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at Beale require specific operational medical support.  That support is in place and functioning well.

"Many people don't realize Beale Airmen are at war every day around the clock 365 days a year," he said. "There are specific career fields here with very specific stressors. The 9th MDG provides support to those Airmen."

Travis left Beale with an assured sense of Beale's medical capabilities.

"I am very proud of the Airmen and the leadership of the 9th MDG," Travis said. "Great leaders are people who delegate, trust and empower their Airmen to innovate and accomplish what they're fully capable of.  I see that here."