OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Air Force movement of using the wingman concept to encourage Airmen to take care of one another has been a great success. After Winter Wingman Day, I realized one aspect of being a wingman in my career as a pilot applies directly to Airmen taking care of Airmen in all career fields. Mutual support as a fighter pilot is comprised of three critical elements that lead to successful employment by a flight. These elements are referred to as "Vis, Comm and Firepower." All Airmen can successfully take care of each other if they internalize and act upon the elements of mutual support in their daily lives.

The first element of mutual support, "Vis" or visual, deals with being in a position to observe or cover your wingman and looking in the right places for the right things. In the air, this deals with positioning your aircraft where you can watch your wingman and look into the target area for possible threats. It is critical not only to know where to look but also what to look for. Knowing what a surface-to-air missile launch or anti-aircraft artillery looks like is vital. The same holds true for all Airmen. At work, if a job is supposed to have a spotter or an additional body to look for hazards, we need to make sure we are where we're supposed to be. Being observant in the workplace for possible safety hazards is another example of visual mutual support. Doing thorough buddy checks during Mission Oriented Protective Posture 4 is also a way to provide visual mutual support. Off duty, examples of being in position to provide visual mutual support include going downtown with a wingman, watching how much your buddy has to drink, looking for signs of depression to prevent suicide and recognizing the signs of a possible altercation or sexual assault, to name a few. Additionally, leaders and supervisors need to get out amongst their subordinates to truly see what is going on. Lead by walking around, not by email. Paying attention at commander's calls, during wingman day or while accomplishing suicide awareness training will increase your ability to provide solid visual mutual support.

The second element of mutual support, "Comm" or communication, involves speaking up at the right time and saying the right things to prevent a threat from hitting your wingman or to point out when your wingman is aiming at the wrong target or, even worse, friendly forces. In our daily lives, Comm mutual support can prevent mishaps or incidents. Having the courage to speak up if you see someone not following technical orders correctly could prevent a mishap. Communicating effectively to your Unit Control Center during a contingency or exercise can aid in mission success. Telling your buddy downtown that you think he or she has had too much to drink could stop them from making a poor decision that could result in an alcohol-related incident. Asking your friend who looks down in the dumps if they are alright or if they would like to talk more than once until they talk to you may prevent a potential suicide. Being the voice of reason when an altercation appears to be starting between two Airmen can prevent a fight. Leaders and supervisors can use Comm mutual support by inquiring about their subordinates' weekend activities or asking how things are going back home for their loved ones while they are stationed here. Comm is often the most critical element of mutual support because it involves saying the right thing at the right time.

Finally, the third element of mutual support, Firepower, requires taking action against a threat by rolling in on it. In the air, that involves being ready at any time to immediately put ordnance on a threat that is actively engaging your wingman. For all of us, Firepower mutual support necessitates action. If you see a dangerous situation developing at work, step in right away and take the appropriate steps to prevent a mishap. Being the person who pulls out their Airman's Manual and takes aggressive steps to provide Self-Aid and Buddy Care during or after an attack is an example of using the element of Firepower. If you see your friend has had too much to drink and looks like he or she is going to walk out of a bar alone or drive home, you need to step in and escort him or her home or take their car keys away. If you know that your buddy is contemplating suicide or has even talked to you about it, take them to see a chaplain or mental health professional and ensure they get there. If you observe a situation that could lead to a sexual assault, grab your friend and make sure he or she gets back to their room safely. Make a call to Security Forces if their intervention in a situation is required. Leaders and supervisors are in an excellent position to make things happen if they think action could improve a situation or prevent an incident. Taking positive action to prevent undesired consequences is the key for providing successful Firepower mutual support.

Taking the three elements of mutual support, Vis, Comm and Firepower, to heart and using them in your daily lives can make you a great wingman. Team Osan needs every Airman to be a good wingman in order to accomplish our mission of "Ready to Fight Tonight" and bring everyone home afterward.