TOP STORY>>Winter Wingman Day wrap-up

By Staff Sgt. Jessica Condit
19th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

Little Rock Air Force Base celebrated Winter Wingman Day Friday, holding classes throughout the base and education center to focus on the four domains of resilience.

Team Little Rock members were able to choose any three classes from the approximately 50 courses offered. The day was created for Airmen to be provided the opportunity to work on resilience.

Changes in the Air Force have brought new ideas and concepts to each base, encouraging Airmen to make their lives and the lives of the people around them better. In order to assist the Airmen in taking advantage of achieving their goals, the Air Force has created Wingman Day.

“We focus on all four domains during Winter Wingman Day,” said Stephanie Wynn, the 19th Airlift Wing community support coordinator. “The focus is individual resilience. We allow Airmen the opportunity to choose the classes and the domains they feel they need additional focus on.”

Friday, the entire base went to minimal manning, allowing maximum participation in the events throughout the day. A variety of classes were being offered. Airmen could sign up for anything from a nature walk to a fitness course. The class options were all over the board.

Although all classes were beneficial, some classes were more popular than others. The classes offered at the Health and Wellness Center provided opportunities for Airmen to obtain better physical health habits.

“The most popular classes are all of the classes offered by the Health and Wellness Center staff, from Vital 90 to Improving Running Efficiency to Super Foods,” said Wynn.

Among the classes offered were some that assisted Airmen in preparing for a life outside of the military. With recent force management programs, Airmen want to be prepared for any scenario including separation from the Air Force.

Classes such as Applying for a Federal Civil Service Position and the Transition Assistance Program: Post Service Educational Benefit were some of the classes offered for transitioning Airmen.

While Winter Wingman Day was a success and focused on all four domains of resilience, the mental domain is the focus for the first quarter of calendar year 2014. Mental resilience is important for the health and strength of every Airman in the Air Force.

“Focusing on the mental health domain is important because emotions and stress are part of our everyday life experiences,” said Maj. Ebon Alley, 19th Medical Group mental health flight commander. “Emotions and stress have the ability to take us to the highest highs and the lowest lows, and being able to bounce back from those low points is a key part of the Air Force’s focus on resilience.”

Winter Wingman Day offered several classes that encouraged Airmen to focus on mental health, such as a Sleep Enhancement course and Anger Management. Overall more than 20 courses were offered that involved the mental domain of resilience.

Airmen can practice mental resilience athome and on a daily basis to ensure mental readiness as well as physical, social and spiritual readiness at all times.

“I’m a huge fan of incorporating all the domains,” said Alley. “I exercise routinely, enjoy as much time as I can with the family, gain happiness through perpetual growth and learning, and play guitar at church. As long as you can keep at least three domains going, then you ‘ve got a triad, and that’s a stable base from which to work.”

The Wingman Day concept has kicked off in the Air Force. The designated day provided ample opportunity for Airmen to gain the knowledge desired and needed in order to be a more effective Airman and leader and a more resilient person altogether.