Team Fairchild celebrates Wingmanship

by Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.  -- Members across Team Fairchild participated in the 92nd Air Refueling Wing's biannual Wingman day March 7 to reinforce good Wingman behaviors.

Each unit or squadron attended to their own agendas, but discussed similar concepts across the base touching on each pillar or domain of comprehensive Airman fitness.

Dawn Altmaier, 92nd ARW Installation Resilience Program specialist, said the three goals of Wingman day were for Airmen and their families to gather a universal understanding of Wingmanship, encourage face-to-face activities allowing Airmen to get to know their supervisors, peers and subordinates, and for units to facilitate small-group interactions, skill and team-building exercises.

"Everyone had a full day's worth of activities," said Altmaier. "The majority of units participated in small-group discussions about diversity, feeling, being a good wingman and ethical decision making. Most groups had a focus on the four CAF pillars; mental, social, physical and spiritual."

Along with discussions, many groups participated in sports activities, morale-boosting games, cultural potlucks and community involvement.

"Our group went to the wood shop on base to put together wood projects to deliver to a local veterans home," said Staff Sgt. Ben Davis, 92nd ARM command chief executive, and Wingman day POC. "It was a good team building opportunity and we were able to serve others as well. It's also nice to get away from the office and do an activity together."

Along with the CAF pilliars, 'Duty to Intervene' was another topic focused on by the units. Duty to intervene means being able to step in helping fellow Wingmen make the right decisions, regardless of what others may think of you. While these initiatives are often practiced, the concept of the day is a reminder to everyone.

"Wingman day is all about helping your fellow Airmen and making good decisions," said Altmaier. "It's about helping all of us succeed as Airmen and being a 'voice of reason' to one another."