Wingman Day ensuring AMC takes care of its own Published Nov. 16, 2004 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- In fiscal year 2004 the Air Force lost 57 of its own to suicide, a 92 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.During the 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign, Air Mobility Command experienced its highest death toll ever, six military personnel and one civilian employee.For these reasons, Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and AMC, designated Nov. 10 as Wingman Day, a day where more than 1,800 AMC headquarters personnel stepped away from their normal high operations tempo to focus on safety, suicide awareness, and stress.I understand the stress induced on our command (by our high operations tempo), and I am humbly thankful for what each of you do, said the general. Wingman Day isnt a time to just focus on suicide prevention; its a time to focus on each other; on taking care of each other.General Handy explained to hundreds in attendance at the Gateway Conference Center in Collinsville, Ill., that aviators use wingmen to cover their back, or six, during combat missions. This day will help us check our six, he said.Wingman Day consisted of two half-day sessions. The first half featured conference-style presentations on personal coping skills and areas related to suicide, while the second half featured directorate-led small group discussions aimed at improving Airmens sensitivity and understanding of suicide.John Foppe, author of the book Whats Your Excuse? Making the Most of What You Have, was the keynote speaker during the first-half sessions. During Wingman Day, Mr. Foppe, born without arms, applied his life struggles and lessons-learned to show members of the AMC headquarters staff how they can deal with everyday stress.There are no unsolved problems in life, only problems that havent been solved yet, he said while pouring a cup of water from a pitcher using only his feet. We all wrestle with a condition something that gets in the way of living a productive life. But its never about your condition; its about your response to it.Mr. Foppe said the "how" and "why" questions to a given situation often come with no answers, and that people are confined and defined by limitations.I battle the limits everyday, but I dont let them hold me back, he said.Mr. Foppe went on to explain that helping each other isnt as easy as just giving someone some money when they're in a bind. He said its more than that.When you give someone your money, you give them part of your income. When you give them your time, you give them part of your life, he said.Other speakers during the first-half session addressed topics such as stress and alcohol use, relationship stress, work-related stress, money-related stress, and achieving balance, relaxation, humor and spirituality. First sergeant, personnel from Life Skills, and members of the chaplaincy led the discussions.The objective of the second-half, directorate-led sessions was to increase knowledge of stress and high-risk situations so Airmen and civilian employees can identify personnel at risk for suicide. True stories presented as case vignettes, follow-up questions and summaries challenged participants to discuss each case and to brainstorm ways to handle the situations.Airmen taking care of Airmen, wont happen at a conference, it will happen at the worker level, in the directorate, on the flight line, in the back shop or at the medical clinic, said General Handy. Thats why the directorate-led sessions were so important. They helped raise our sensitivities in areas where we can make a difference for each other.While the general set aside Nov. 10 as headquarters Wingman Day, he has directed wing commanders throughout AMC to conduct their own Wingman Day in the near future. Air Mobility Command News Service is a service of the Internal Division Office of Public Affairs 503 Ward Drive, Room 214 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5335 618-229-7821