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Team Dover participates in Wingman Day

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  • By 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Here at your friendly public affairs office we did more than just cover the Wingman Day events, we also participated in them.
 
The following are our thoughts and observations from a great day of sports and team building.

Airman 1st Class William Johnson

For the 2014 Wingman Day, I had the role of refereeing the dodgeball tournament. It was a unique experience because I got to see individuals come together and function as a team, in other words I saw what being a wingman really means.

Being a referee has the advantage of seeing the "whole" game from both sides and I got to see how teams and the crowd were able to influence the game. I recall one game where there was a single Airman pitted against four Airmen from the opposing team. When many would probably give up and take an easy out, this Airman decided not to go down without a fight, and he had the full support of his team and the crowd. One by one he picked off the remaining Airmen until it was an even one-on-one. Then with one swift throw he got the final out and won the game for his team. The crowd exploded and his team rushed the court to celebrate. Many stood on the sidelines stunned by what they just witnessed, but I believe it was wingmanship at its finest. This single Airman, with all the odds against him, stayed resilient and had the full support of his team to overcome the odds and complete his mission.

Airman 1st Class Zachery Cacicia

Being new to the Air Force and Dover Air Force Base, this was my first time participating in a Wingman Day. So I really had no idea on what to expect. The events and the course of the day did not disappoint. From the hundreds of Airmen running in the 5K fun run/walk that kicked off the day, to the teams that participated in dodgeball, basketball, softball, and cornhole.

With all of the great events, food and camaraderie, Team Dover truly displayed that it does not lack in wingmanship in the least. Working in Public Affairs, I was able to see almost everything that was going on; plus I participated in both the 5K and the cornhole competition. I still cannot believe how badly Airman 1st Class William Johnson, 436th AW/PA photojournalist, and I were destroyed in the first round of the cornhole competition. The day was a great success and really opened my eyes to how much wingmanship means to the Air Force.

Tech. Sgt. Charles Walker

Horseshoes was pretty cool. I didn't like the fact that they gave us one real horseshoe and one plastic horseshoe that weighed 2 ounces. You could never get into a rhythm. My teammate Tech. Sgt. Dale Gosney led for our whole entire match until there was a minute left and one of the guys on the team we were playing got a ringer and one close for a 4-point play. It stunk to lose that way, but oh well. We got to eat earlier, I guess, so it wasn't all bad.

Senior Airman Jared Duhon

It was quite a bit of fun to tug on the rope. We won the first round against the 436th Logistics readiness Squadron but sadly I don't think we were as prepared for the next one. The Super Port had more power behind their pulls, and cleats. I think cleats would have given us a better chance.

I was so impressed I watched their next match. I don't know who they were against but that team didn't stand a chance. The Port Dawgs have the most support I have ever seen from a squadron. The day was about resiliency and support structures. The strongest bonds are forged in battle, and it shows in peace.