Airmen gear up for Wingman day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Wingman day makes its way to Little Rock Sept. 23, 2011, for the second time this year. Expectations are high as the Air Mobility Command exercises the four pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness: mental, spiritual, physical and social. Sept. 23, 2011, is a day where Airmen can lay their hair down a little and relieve the stress that builds up every once in a while.

Not only do Airmen have an opportunity to relieve stress, but they also have a chance to be a wingman, by listening and reaching out to fellow Airmen with similar or different stressors.

"Wingman day is a time we take from doing our main job to step back and focus on being good wingman by looking out for each other. Also by spotting out any troubles a fellow wingman is having and helping them work through it. This day also strengthens the wing in the process," said Capt. Jeremy Hefner, wingman day project officer.
Friday will hold all types of events for each wing to participate in. Each wing will be divided into specific groups, said Hefner.

"The main event is the stress seminar that will be offered three times throughout the day," said Tech Sgt. Julie Jeffords, wingman day assistant project officer. "Every group will filter through it. The guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Trent Baines, Detachment 7 commander from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The seminars will be located at the base theater."

Times for each seminar are: 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and 1 - 3 p.m.

"Part of the fitness pillar of the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness is, for the entire day, no one will use a vehicle once they get to work," said Hefner. "Once you get to your duty location, it's feet only for the whole day. When each group has its turn to go to the seminar, everyone will either walk or run to the base theater, and when it is over, they will walk or run back. The attire for Friday will be PT gear," he said.

Every hour on the hour, Airmen have the option to do 19 motivational push-ups or sit-ups as well, said Jeffords.

At some point throughout the day, there will be unit-level discussion time, said Hefner. The unit commander will have time to speak to their unit and introduce a topic. Volunteering facilitators uses a list of topics to make sure the conversations continue. Topics could include alcohol-related incidents and work-place safety.

Direct supervisors will also have a chance to speak to their subordinates in a smaller group setting, said Hefner. An hour and a half will be reserved for all units to take that time and use it as needed for whatever training or exercise they come up with.

"The purpose of this day is to keep Airmen's minds refreshed," said Hefner. "That's why it's twice a year. We want to keep these topics in the minds of Airmen. Just because one Airman isn't personally struggling with a particular situation, doesn't mean his/her wingman isn't. This day will cause Airmen to take the blinders off and reflect back on these topics when they are confronted with a wingman who needs help."

"I think it's nice to break away from our daily routine, and take some time to talk to each other," Jeffords said. "We may notice things that we wouldn't have before. Getting people to talk about their daily stressors is important."

Facilitators will have a resource guide, so if there are any topics that were not discussed, one could find the facilitators for more information. Some of the resources available on base are mental health, the chapel and the fitness center.

While enjoying wingman day, wing leaders challenge Airmen to remember the last stanza of the Airman's creed: I am an American Airman, wingman, leader, warrior, I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter and I will not fail.