Wingman day joins Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As the holiday peaks, many Airmen look forward to spending time with family and friends. During the times when this in not possible, Airmen turn to their Wingman.

That is why McConnell units will pause normal daily operations for a portion of Dec. 2, 2011, for Wingman Day. The day is part of an Air Force-wide initiative to help Airmen, Air Force Civilians and family members become more resilient and better-equipped to deal with the challenges of military life.

The theme at McConnell for this Wingman Day is 'Tally ho, wingman in sight.' The theme relates to the "Wingman Concept" as part of the Air Force's flying culture, dating back to the earliest days of aerial combat.

Though the Air Force requires each base to host a Wingman Day at least twice a year, the date and planning for the day is tailored by each base.

The main goal is to use small group discussions among Airmen to provide skill and strategies related to health, mission performance and unit cohesion, said Maj. Amy Harshner, 22nd Contracting Squadron commander and one of the lead organizers of McConnell's Wingman Day. The activities and theme for Wingman Day were created by a working group at McConnell that included representatives from most McConnell's agencies.

The day will include discussions at squadron level or below, led by each unit's leadership and tailored to the unit's mission and needs. All units will receive a 30-minute safety presentation that will help Airmen not only during the winter and holiday season, but also year-round, said Robert Clapp, 22nd Air Refueling Wing ground safety manager. Topics will include responsible drinking, winter driving, hunter safety and holiday decorations. The main goal for the day, however, is to help Airmen communicate with their co-workers on a more personal level.

The overall schedule for the day will include briefings in the morning by each unit's leadership, a coordinated group lunch that will keep the units together and sporting activities in the afternoon to help influence team building. Some units have planned to bowl, play drop-the-egg and a variety of other trust building exercises, said Harshner.

"This is an opportunity set aside for the Total Force to get away from their workcenters and socially meet everyone, putting faces to names, and to actually get an opportunity to meet people, other than through the actual business actions," said Harshner. "There's a little bit more meaning to your relationship when you know someone beyond your day-to-day interactions at work because there is more of an emotional investment, and that it's okay to come to each other when we have stresses."

The holiday season can also be one of the main stressors for Airmen this time of year.

"In our culture, when you're away from home, it's easy to get lost," said Harshner. "One thing that helps is to bring people into other people's lives that care. During the holidays, Airmen are most vulnerable, especially for people who don't have enough leave or funds to go home."

Though Wingman Day will consist of informational briefings, the most important goal is for Airmen to gain a more personal relationship with others in their shop, office or on the flightline.

"The whole idea is to identify people you are worried about," said Harshner. "Concentrate on new Airmen, Airmen that may be going through a separation or divorce; basically, it's about finding the people that really need our support."