News

The Wingman Concept: For Everyday Use

Published Feb. 27, 2012
By Senior Airman Chase Connolly
757 AMXS

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The wingman concept is a simple but critical idea that can be used every day, in many situations. It fosters an environment of collaboration and accountability. It helps us head off bad decisions by catching mistakes early, so we can take the best course of action soonest.

It is a necessity in today's Air Force.

The wingman concept came from the first pilots to take to the skies. While in flight, the wingman of the lead pilot would hang back a few feet and off to either side. The position would allow the wingman to watch and provide support when needed. Each backed the other up. This concept is still used by our pilots today.

Everyone's seen the one person at a party who thinks they're good to drive home after having a few too many. This situation is one where the wingman concept has power.

Anyone can look the other way. The wingman is the person who speaks up and refuses to let him/her drive, and instead finds an alternate way to get them home.

A small investment of personal courage to stand up and take responsibility keeps a potentially deadly drunk driver off the road. The wingman sees what the other cannot, speaks up, and everyone goes home safely.

When it comes to work, a single person taking on a task alone could take more time than needed. With another person helping prevent mistakes that could require work to be redone, productivity nearly triples, resulting in better mission accomplishment.

When learning a new sport or studying for a test, it's helpful to have another, more experienced person to offer advice and help. The list goes on.

One of the biggest threats to the wingman concept is peer pressure. Peer pressure comes in many forms. Everybody knows the generic versions of peer pressure, such as, "It's just one more" or "Oh, come on, it's no big deal."

Peer pressure can also be non-verbal, yet just as deadly to the wingman concept. Toleration can have the same effect as approval.

For instance, let's say you and a friend are going to take a snowboarding trip. When you arrive, you open your trunk to get your gear but realize you have forgotten your helmet. Instead of telling your friend, "Hey, I forgot my helmet," you simply act like nothing's wrong and go snowboarding anyway.

Your action speaks volumes, creating peer pressure by just implying that nothing is wrong. You might as well have just said "It's only one trip. Nothing is going to happen," or even, "Oh, come on, it's no big deal."

The best way to actively fight this attack on the wingman concept is to stay focused on what is right and do that. If not, you may be setting your wingman up for failure without a single word. Taking that extra second to evaluate the whole situation before making decisions puts a stop to the peer pressure attack.

The wingman concept is here to stay. The Air Force mission is a team effort, and it's up to each of us to provide back up to our fellow Airmen when needed - even when doing what's right is the more difficult choice.

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