Winter Wingman Day unites Airman of all ranks

Published Feb. 15, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Anna-Marie Wyant
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing came together Feb. 13 for a briefing and team-building exercises here to learn about resiliency and discuss how to be better wingmen in honor of Winter Wingman Day 2011.

The purpose of Winter Wingman Day 2011 was to reinforce the wingman concept as a foundation to building resilient Airmen. According to the Defense Centers for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, resiliency is the ability to withstand, recover and/or grow in the face of stressors and changing demands.

Capt. Matthew C. Simpson, 920th RQW unit chaplain, said resiliency is important for military members to effectively deal with stress in their lives.

"Resilience seems to be the new Air Force buzz word going around," Captain Simpson said, "but it's more than just a buzz word."

He said being a good wingman and having good wingmen makes Airmen more resilient.

"None of us can get through this life on our own, especially with the demands the Air Force puts on its Airmen," he said. "Really, we have to have many wingmen for different aspects of our lives, but to be someone's wingman, we have to be physically, mentally, socially and spiritually fit ourselves."

Captain Simpson outlined the five individual resilience characteristics for Airmen during the briefing: optimism, self-efficacy, hardiness, mastery, and sense of coherence. He said each person had these characteristics to some degree.

"Help your wingmen find these characteristics in themselves," he told Airmen.

He said having a sense of coherence, finding meaning and purpose in stressful situations and regular events, is one of the most important aspects of resiliency because it takes faith.

"Faith is about believing in something greater than yourself," Captain Simpson said. "Even an atheist goes to bed believing the sun will come up the next morning."

In addition to resiliency, Captain Simpson discussed other pertinent subjects, including post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. Many Airmen said they found the briefing and team-building exercises helpful, especially new members.

Amn. Zachary Scaff from the 920th Command Post, especially liked the team-building exercises he did with personnel of all ranks in wing staff, led by Command Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Delebreau.

"It was good having the unit come together," Airman Scaff said.

Airman Scaff, who has been drilling with the 920th RQW since January, said the briefing, which personnel wing-wide attended, was very informative.

"I think resiliency is more important than most people think," he said. "It's definitely underrated."

For more information on the 920th RQW, please visit our website and please become a fan of the 920th RQW on Facebook and Twitter.