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Wingman day celebrated at JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Steve Snyder and Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  McGuire Airmen and leadership joined forces Nov.10, attending meetings and sharing ideas to attain a shared ideal of taking care of one another's wingmen.

The annual Wingman Day is aimed at inspiring an ethos of responsible individualism that encourages all servicemembers to make responsible choices and keep others in their circles safe and healthy.

"Wingman Day is a reminder we are all in the same fight and same mission to win our wars and keep each other safe," said Senior Airman Isaac Ravevich, 87th Air Base Wing.

Airman Martin Snow, 305th Maintenance Operations Squadron, echoed thesesentiments, saying Wingman Day should "remind us we are all a big family and to look out for each other."

The morning began with an opening ceremony. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander, Col. Gina Grosso, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Warren Wofford addressed all, emphasizing the importance of the wingman concept and Wingman Day.

Topics included responsible drinking behavior; safe practices at home, work and on vacation during the holiday seasons; effective identification and intervention with troubled Airmen; suicide prevention; preventing sexual assault; effective intervention against domestic violence; sound financial management; fun things to do in New Jersey; how to relieve stress; and taking advantage of educational opportunities.

"(Wingman Day) shows the leadership is there and they (Airmen) have someone to lean on," said Master Sgt. Patrick Robertson from the 305th Air Mobility Wing.

Participants received a free lunch of hotdogs and soda that afternoon before they divided into interactive discussion groups to discuss ways to become better wingmen.

The day concluded with team-based physical activity.

Members of the 87th Air Base Wing and the 621st Contingency Response Wing assembled at the McGuire Fitness Center to participate in a Warrior Run, while members of 305th Air Mobility Wing participated in an "Extreme Tag" fundraiser on the soccer field.