Article Display

Everyone's a Wingman

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Champagne
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Shaw will conduct its third annual Wingman Day on Nov. 9 with training on the Culture of Responsible Choices and the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, and financial management.

Leaders will also provide unit-specific safety messages to their Airmen and opportunities for team building. 

The objective is to strengthen the morale and welfare of the wing by devoting time to building relationships between co-workers, examining organizational strengths and vulnerabilities, and planning for the coming year, said Shaw officials. 

The day starts off with opening comments from Col. Bill Hyatt, 20th Fighter Wing commander, during a commander's call for all group and squadron commanders and wing staff agency chiefs.

Three additional wing commander's calls are planned at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. The guest speaker is retired Air Force Col. Deborah Gray, a consultant for Sexual Assault Response and Prevention programs.

According to Air Force officials, the Culture of Responsible Choices program is an initiative that helps emphasize that Airmen should make responsible choices and take care of themselves and their fellow Airmen by drinking responsibly, making responsible decisions and practicing responsible behavior in all phases of their lives. 

Wingman Day is an Air Force-wide project first held in 2004 to prevent suicides and vehicle mishaps. The program has since expanded to provide Airmen the resources they need to take care of themselves and each other, said Tom Flaherty, 20th Mission Support Group deputy chief of installation who was commended last year for being instrumental in getting the Wingman Day concept off the ground. 

"Each year Wingman Day gets better and better. We learn new ways to strengthen our relationships and support each other," Colonel Hyatt said.