Wingman day 2013

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Wright
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The 442nd Fighter Wing Safety Office is scheduled to coordinate Wingman Day 2013, March 9, here.

Wingman Day is an annual event that encourages resiliency in Airmen by having units pause for a day, reinforce the Wingman concept and focus on personal and unit wellness.

"Wingman Day is something the military put together because they want people to develop resiliency," said Maj. Jeff Bruce, 442nd Fighter Wing chaplain. "It's about meeting the needs of the mission, through meeting the needs of the person."

This is Bruce's first Wingman Day here, but he is hardly a stranger to helping Airmen. He will be partnering with the 442nd Safety Office to deliver content for the event.

"This day is a chance to pause, watch each other's backs and make sure the wing is taking care of everyone," said Sidney P. Guidry, 442nd FW weapons safety manager.

Guidry said being social can bolster an Airman's ability to bounce back from the stresses of life.

"Get involved with activities, be open and get socially active," he said. "When you look at people who have committed suicide, a lot became secluded and did not ask for help. Asking for help shows strength, not weakness."

Strong bonds between wingmen are crucial to head off such problems, said Bruce.

"When you see a change in someone, if they seem down or different than usual, you engage them," Bruce said. "That's what it comes down to, is caring for each other as people."

Guidry said taking care of each other also involves taking warning signs seriously and knowing what resources are available.

"Approach them, and take them to someone who can help, don't pass them off to someone else," Guidry said. "Take them to a chaplain, or to mental health. Follow up to make sure they get that help - don't just brush it off."

Bruce said Wingman Day is a day-long effort to promote a year-round culture of resiliency.

"In life, there are always going to be ups and downs, whether it is personal things or work." Bruce said. "Wingman day is about building up your ability to handle the changes that occur in life."

Wingman Day will feature a recorded video message from Lt. Gen. James Jackson, commander and chief of Air Force Reserve, who will speak on the importance of resiliency.

Bruce will be presenting a briefing Saturday on stress and its impact on the individual and the mission.

While there will be few centralized events, the safety office has provided resources so unit facilitators can spread the wingman concept at the unit level.

For more information of Wingman Day, you can contact the 442nd Safety Office at 660-687-3838, or the wing chaplain's office at 660-687-3827. You can also find resiliency tools for Airmen at http://afrc.wingmantoolkit.org/ .