Wingman Day: Caring for our fellow Airmen

  • Published
  • By Col. Elaine K. Barron
  • 512th Mission Support Group commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The purpose of Wingman Day is to strengthen the morale and welfare of units by devoting time to building relationships among coworkers, examining organizational strengths and vulnerabilities, and planning for the coming year, according to Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, deputy chief of staff, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. 

The active-duty Air Force typically observes Wingman Day the last duty day prior to Veterans Day. Due to operational feasibility, Air Force Reserve Command emphasizes the wingman concept during the November or December UTA. 

When your leadership speaks in the coming UTAs about the wingman program, some may ponder just how you can look after your wingman, whom as a traditional reservist, you see very little of? 

To that, I say there is no such thing as "Wingman Day" but a concept we should embrace and reinforce everyday of the year, both in our military and civilian life. Being a good wingman, makes us mission ready and enables us to reflect on our shared core values. 

Whether you hear a briefing on substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault or vehicle accidents, remember all of these issues have a significant impact on readiness and our mission capability. Simple things like ensuring your life insurance and emergency contact information is current are all integral to the wingman concept. 

As the wing spins up for the Operational Readiness Inspection, we must not forget to devote time to building relationships between our warriors. The wingman program is just as important as learning the Airman's manual, self-aid buddy care, chemical warfare training and combat arms. It's part of being mission ready, and it could be the difference between life or death. 

Take care of each other, explain our mission to your family in a way they can clearly understand; if your family is taken care of, you will worry a little less about them in a deployed environment, which makes you more capable to accomplish the mission.