445 AW Wingman Day emphasizes 'finding the good'

  • Published
  • By Capt. Elizabeth Caraway
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Lt. Gen. James Jackson, commander, Air Force Reserve Command, has urged members to "find the good and maintain a prospect of hope...even in the midst of difficulty." This concept of "finding the good" and striving for an optimistic outlook was the grounding tenet of Wingman Day activities April 6.

Since 1943, the term "wingman" has referred to the pilot of the plane beside the lead aircraft in a formation. The wingman's presence increases both offensive and defensive capabilities through additional firepower and situational awareness. In combat, the wingman warns the lead aircraft of any immediate threats and remains close at all times. The wingman protects the leader, reacts to changes in surroundings, and is an active communicator.

Airmen of every specialty code have now embraced the title "wingman" and, hopefully, all that the role implies on the ground, outside of an aircraft. A "wingman culture" implies a culture of awareness--of one's contributions to the team, of changes in the environment, and of threats to unit members. It does not imply that an individual is solely responsible for the actions of all team members, nor that Airmen must act as babysitters for their team. Ultimately, people make their own decisions, but as a wingman, it is your job to communicate to those around you when you identify potential threats. A good wingman is an Airman that is willing to step in and speak up when a situation is getting out of hand or going south.

"We want to cultivate a feeling of esprit de corps, recognizing indicators of stress in yourself as well as others," said Lt. Col. David Leist, 445th Airlift Wing chaplain.

Maintaining a culture of awareness begins with the individual; if you aren't taking care of yourself, it's difficult to do your best caring for others. Leist explained that comprehensive Airman fitness has four components: mental, physical, social, and spiritual. He compared these components to the four legs of a chair; when you lose stability in a chair leg, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay upright.

The 445th AW units developed their own Wingman Day activities, comprising a variety of briefings, team building exercises, and games centered on "finding the good" in work, at home, and each other.

The maintenance group developed unit cohesion through a game of Amazing Race. Event coordinator Master Sgt. Kerrie Yeager, 445th Maintenance Group NCO in charge, said the goal of the game was to build morale and develop a better understanding of how team members respond in different situations, a useful skill for wingmen.

The MXG Amazing Race had five stations, reached by deciphering locations clues such as "What is the sign first seen when welcomed to the 445th Airlift Wing?" Once there, team members had to unscramble words to create sentences such as "Wingmen exemplify effective communication and respect for one another." Each station also required the completion of a physical exercise, like squats or burpies, and for a team member to wear a piece of chem gear equipment.

"It was a good team building exercise," said winning team member Tech. Sgt. Timothy Tharp, 445 MXG data analyst. "I enjoyed the opportunity to get outside with my co-workers."

The other members of winning team, "The Exasperators," were Master Sgts. Kerry Penner and Greg King and Tech. Sgts. Samarra Appling and Kara Lamm. They won an early sign-out the next Unit Training Assembly.

Members of the wing staff held a discussion group to share personal stories. For traditional Reservists who only see co-workers once a month, it can be challenging to become familiar with the happenings in each Airman's life. Knowing each other's stories is important for two reasons. First, the better you know someone, the more you understand team member motivations, which will influence their response to various scenarios. Second, the more Airmen feel like part of a team, the more personally invested they become in accomplishing the mission. The staff completed the day with wallyball and circuit training at the gym.

Leist urged 445th AW members to routinely self-assess their personal state. Several free online surveys offer you the opportunity to be more personally objective. Two that are readily available are the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory. For anonymous mental health screening, visit wwww.MilitaryMentalHealth.org.

Anyone that would like additional information on self-assessments or resources for dealing with stress and "finding the good" can contact the wing chaplain's office at (937) 257-0589, the Airman and Family Readiness Center at (937) 257-3594, or the Psychological Health Advocacy Program at (937) 257-2396. Remember, a wingman could also direct individuals that may be struggling to these resources.