Lessons from a true Wingman

  • Published
  • By Col. Kevin Murphy
  • Commander, 436th Medical Group
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  August 3, 1992, the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the hopes of a nation rest on the shoulders and legs of Derek Redmond. Derek Redmond held the British record for the 400-meter sprint and had won gold medals in the 4x400-meter relay at the World Championships, European Championships and the Commonwealth Games. The stage was set for glory after bitter disappointment in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Sadly, his quest for Olympic gold would not be realized.

Redmond was fast out of the blocks and in the lead when at the 250-meter mark he heard and felt what he described as a gunshot. Clutching his hamstring, he stopped and knelt on the track. His hamstring was torn and his race was over. Not wanting to disappoint his nation and the 65,000 fans in the stadium, he collected himself and began to limp towards the finish line. Seventy-five meters from the finish line his father, Jim, managed to leave the stands and assisted Derek across the finish line.

Anyone that has seen the video of father and son crossing the line together will never forget it. People use the words courage, perseverance and strength to describe Derek Redmond's effort that day. I would like to focus on the actions of Jim Redmond. That day, Jim Redmond saw his son struggling and immediately came to his aid. His actions that day epitomize what it means to be a Wingman.

The Wingman concept is part of the Air Force culture. Its part our Creed. Yet, there have been far too many examples this summer where Wingmen failed their fellow Airmen. During this year's Critical Days of Summer, 11 Airmen have lost their lives. In 10 of the 11 cases there was at least one Wingman present that could have stepped in and prevented a tragedy. If just 10 Airmen had said something, done something, 10 lives could have been saved and countless others spared the heartbreak of the loss of a loved one.

As a Wingman, it is your responsibility to follow this simple mantra: "If you see something, say something." If you see something that isn't right or feels wrong, it is your duty to say something. While we focus on the preventable loss of life during the Critical Days of Summer, please don't lose sight of the fact that being a Wingman applies to every aspect of your life.

Serving as a Wingman and employing techniques from bystander intervention training can prevent the vast majority of sexual assaults and protect the Air Force's most important asset. Identifying workplace hazards and notifying a supervisor can prevent thousands of workplace injuries. Taking the time to get to know your co-workers and supervised personnel, what they do in their off-duty time and what their interests are, will make for a more cohesive workplace and increase morale.

I challenge you to be the Wingman that Jim Redmond was!