LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Lackland breaks from daily operations and missions Feb. 18 to reinforce the Wingman concept and provide a foundation for building resilient Airmen.
Small discussion groups and team building exercises in the 37th Training Wing and in 802nd Mission Support Group squadrons will focus on resiliency and unit health for Winter Wingman Day 2011.
The Air Force defines resiliency as the ability to withstand, recover and/or grow in the face of stressors and changing demands. Today's goal is to encourage Wingmen to be vigilant and resilient by devoting time in structured unit discussion to enhance those skills and strategies for difficult situations.
"On past Wingman Days, it's been more like, 'What if something happens to you?'" said Master Sgt. Dustin Hall, 344th Training Squadron, co-coordinator for 37th TRW Wingman Day. "I think the angle today is 'Something's going to happen in your life.' We need to build resiliency in Airmen to handle that situation, big or small, relevant to their world.
"The Wingman concept ties into it. Peers, co-workers, supervisors and leadership need to recognize the signs in a distressed situation and lead them to the right resources," he said.
Airmen in 37th TRW squadrons will use this morning for Wingman Day activities, then set out to Stillman Park for a burger burn from 12:30-4:30 p.m. The Lackland Top 3 will cook and serve, assisted by Lackland 5/6.
Steven Grant, 802nd MSG Program Management Office manager and MSG Wingman Day coordinator, said the group's squadrons will assign Airmen either this morning or this afternoon to small discussion groups and exercises within their units on resiliency, team building and the Wingman concept.
Commanders will address their units to open activities by highlighting the importance of resiliency and the Wingman concept before their unit is split into small groups for training and discussion.
A team building exercise follows in the form of a sporting, recreational or process improvement event.
Units are encouraged to incorporate the four wellness quadrants - physical, mental, social and spiritual - into the exercise.
Commanders have the option of addressing their units after the day's activities.
"It's important to identify when your Wingman is having issues because you're part of a team," Mr. Grant said. "In any organization, you've got to function as a team to accomplish the mission.
"It's like a bicycle chain. If you take out one of the links, the bike goes nowhere until the chain is linked together. The same concept applies when it comes to taking care of your Wingman because it makes the team whole."