Wingman important at Columbus AFB

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Douglas Kelley
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Commander's Action Group
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  The "Wingman Concept" is and has always been an important part of Air Force culture in the flying community. However, in recent years the concept has taken a necessary leap from the flight line into all facets of an Airman's life. The concept is simple. 

The Air Force must have a culture where Airmen take care of each other 24 hours a day, 7 seven days a week, 365 days a year. This can be done by creating a "Culture of Responsible Choices," where letting the Air Force Core Values guide Airmen to make responsible decisions that keep themselves and each other safe and healthy. On the job, this can mean everything from following safety guidelines to taking care of coworkers in the work environment. At home, making responsible choices means taking care of family members first so issues at home don't become detrimental to the work environment. Breakdowns in the Wingman Concept occur much too often both in and out of the workplace, and unfortunately, these breakdowns tend to have severe consequences. 

This is why the BLAZE team will hold a Wingman Day Tuesday. This day serves as the culmination of a concept practiced by all Airmen in every unit on Columbus AFB. Tuesday will provide an opportunity for CAFB personnel to take a step back from the daily grind to focus solely on reinforcing the Wingman concept, reacquainting Airmen with culture principles and revitalizing our dedication to being great Wingmen.
 
In order to get the most out of Wingman Day, the stress will not be placed on training or the presentation of material. Instead the day will be dedicated to small group discussions and will emphasize team building, communication and interaction.
Events will begin at 6:30 a.m. on the flightline side of base operations with a Wing Commander's Call, where Col. Dave Gerber will kick off Wingman Day. This is the same location where we took the wing photo last month. The Child Development center will open early at 6:00 a.m. to support Wingman Day. Following the Commander's Call, civilians are encouraged and all base military personnel will participate in a two mile Warrior Run on the flightline. 

Wingman Day will be facilitated by individual unit representatives after the completion of the run. During this time base personnel will have the opportunity to solidify relationships and get to know peers in more meaningful ways. This is a chance to systemically examine the organizational climate, troubleshoot unit problems and lay a roadmap for the coming year. On a day-to-day basis the Wingman concept can sometimes be overshadowed by the mission. 

Tuesday will give units time to examine principles such as responsible drinking behavior, operational risk management, suicide and sexual assault prevention and financial management. These topics can not only make their way to the forefront of BLAZE members' minds but also be discussed in an open forum. 

It is important to remember that while Wingman Day is only one day on the calendar, all Airmen must internalize the principles incorporated in the Wingman Concept. By implementing these concepts in conjunction with our Core Values Airmen, have the toolkit to guide decision making all year round.