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Wingman Day aims to strengthen unit, Airmen morale

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Team McGuire personnel are encouraged to participate in activities around the base in support of Wingman Day Nov. 21. 

The day will kick off at the fitness center at 7 a.m., prior to a Warrior Run, with a leadership call by Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander. 

"The objective of Wingman Day is to strengthen unit morale by devoting time to building relationships between co-workers, examining organizational strengths and vulnerabilities, and planning for the coming year," said Don Divis, Airman and Family Readiness Center director and Wingman Day lead. "This year's central message is 'Good leadership is Good Prevention.' Leaders must encourage Airmen to be great wingmen by promoting and role modeling healthy lifestyle choices." 

Following the leadership call, several intramural sports activities will be going on at the fitness center from 8:30 to 11 a.m., including walleyball, volleyball, racquetball and three-on-three basketball. From noon to 3 p.m., squadrons will host small group discussions about a "culture of responsible choices." A Community Resource Fair will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Child Development Center 1. 

Mr. Divis encourages all Airmen, including civilian personnel, to get involved with Wingman Day. 

"Wingman Day offers a pause in the day-to-day mission focus of Airmen in order to solidify relationships, get to know peers in more meaningful ways, systematically examine the organizational climate, troubleshoot unit problems, and lay a roadmap for the coming year," Mr. Divis said. "It is the centerpiece around which this year-round culture is anchored; it reinforces the wingman concept, reacquaints Airmen with culture principles and revitalizes our dedication to being great wingmen." 

The Wingman Day concept was established in October 2004 by Gen. John P. Jumper, chief of staff of the Air Force, to further instill a culture in the Air Force in which Airmen focus on taking care of Airmen. 

The term wingman stems from a time-honored tradition within the Air Force flying community that essentially says lead pilots will never lose their supporting pilot.