Being a Wingman - Not just a 9 to 5 job Published Jan. 30, 2009 By Master Sgt. Sean Wise 2nd Airlift Squadron POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- So there I was, 4:50 a.m. one brisk Saturday last fall, heading to the base. The 1st Sergeant had just woken me from a sound slumber 20 minutes earlier and informed me that one of my Airmen was in need of my assistance. It seems that he got himself into trouble with local law enforcement, and I needed to sign for him and take him home. I live in Pinehurst, and on a busy weekday, I might encounter about 10 cars on the way to work. But on that Saturday (at 5 a.m.) it was just me and the wildlife... or so I thought. I am used to encountering deer during my commutes, but this morning I was shocked to see a young man walking in the middle of the road as I came around a curve. It was still pitch black out and I was 18 miles from the base at this point. I slowed down, pulled up next to him, and cautiously bid him "good morning." He said he'd gotten separated from his friends, didn't know where he was, and asked if I could give him a ride to his barracks on Fort Bragg. I told him to hop in. It turns out he was a young soldier, about a year in the service. We talked about deployments and he said he couldn't wait to get over to the AOR for his first trip and work with his teammates. We finally made it back to the barracks and I sat there in the parking lot until I saw him enter his room. I continued back to Pope to help sort out my Airman, who had been nervously awaiting my arrival. On another occasion last summer, my family and I were driving through Virginia returning home from a few weeks leave in England. My van's air conditioning decided it didn't want to work anymore and seized up. I pulled into the next rest area which was (luckily) about 50 yards ahead. We all got out to sit in the shade (it was over 100 degrees that day) and I called AAA for assistance. As I was just getting comfortable, I noticed a lady standing next to her car looking at her flat tire. She started looking around like she was unsure what to do, so I went over and offered my help. I soon went to work, and with the combination of the current temperature and the fact she just pulled off the highway, it made for one smoking hot tire change. I finished up about 10 minutes later. She thanked me and offered money, which I declined, and she went on her way. AAA finally showed up, we got our van repaired and headed home. More recently, one of my NCO's received a late night call from the wife of one of his buddies. His friend was going through a rough time trying to deal with some emotional issues related to his being wounded multiple times while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. His friend's wife had found him unconscious and unresponsive and called my NCO in a panic. He quickly called emergency services, headed over to their house, and administered first aid until the medics arrived. He then drove his friend's wife to the hospital and stayed with both of them until the early hours of the morning until everything was under control. So my point in all of this is that although the primary focus of the "Wingman Concept" is Airmen taking care of Airmen, it is not just a "9 to 5" job. There are no open or closed signs, no hours or schedules posted. It's not just helping out or looking after the Airman in the cubical next to you, or the guy on the maintenance stand next to you changing a leaking propeller. I think it can be applied to the "bigger picture" of the world around us, any time, any day. It's about helping out whoever may need it, whatever the situation. Whether it is a fellow war fighter on a dark back road in the middle of nowhere, a lady stranded at a rest stop in Virginia, or a buddy having some troubles in base housing, the list is endless. It's being alert to possible threats or problems around you, and having the courage to step in if something just doesn't seem right. How many times have you seen a co-worker struggling with fitness? Do you just stand idly by or do you get involved? A young NCO in our squadron saw this recently and stepped in to help. She took one of her Airmen under her wing and made a plan. A few months of training and hard work helped bring her co-worker's score up dramatically and improved her overall health. We owe it to ourselves, members of Team Pope and the community all around us to be vigilant in searching out problems and helping to solve them.