Taking caring to the next level Published Oct. 8, 2006 By Chaplain (Col.) Nate Crawford Jr. 375th Airlift Wing SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Il. -- Taking care of our wingman is a concept brought to the forefront of Air Force culture by our former Chief of Staff, retired Gen. John Jumper, to better address the issue of suicide prevention. This concept continues to receive visibility from our present CSAF, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, and at all other levels of Air Force leadership. Adequately caring for our nation's greatest resource is not the primary responsibility of one functional agency, but rather is a family affair. Every officer, enlisted, and civilian member has the opportunity, and perhaps more importantly the responsibility, to contribute to this effort. The Air Force has operationalized the Integrated Delivery System - the working arm of the Community Action Information Board - to take the lead in creating an atmosphere that is conducive to providing better care for our wingmen. Team Scott leadership already plays a phenomenal part in enabling the 375th Airlift Wing chapel staff to provide support to Team Scott's servicemembers and their families. But, we can't stop at our current level of success -- our programs must continue to evolve. Taking care to the next level involves creating an atmosphere that is more balanced, but still conducive in our current state of readiness. The value- of- life approach goes beyond the "functional valuing" of people to the "human valuing" of people, and involves identifying with individuals beyond their functional value - what they are or what job they do - to valuing them as a human beings - who they are. Additionally, the concept stresses understanding the value on life emphasis, by being compassionate and seeing people as they were uniquely created. The foundation for value of life is communicating that you care. Value of life communicates an affirmative response to the biblical question: "Am I my brother's (wingman) keeper?" The value of life approach answer is "Yes I am my brother's keeper. Yes I am a good neighbor, and yes I am a good Wingman." The value of life emphasis adapts the Good Samaritan actions when relating to people at risk, encourages an awareness and sensitivity to people in pain and communicates genuine care and concern. VOL is proactive. It consistently goes beyond just talking about being a good neighbor or good wingman by identifying with and engaging a person compassionately by empathizing with their pain, while communicating their value as a person. To promote growth in the arena of helping all Airmen, especially those at risk, overcome the stressors of life and our ever changing Air Force environment, we must put as much focus on the value of life as we currently do on the quality of life. Quality of life focuses on tangible things such as where we work, play, live and eat. These are things that enhance life by making things more comfortable, fun and convenient. On the other hand, value of life initiatives focus on intangible characteristics such as loyalty, pride, faith and hope, which not only sustain life, but give people's lives meaning and purpose. A focus on value of life is critical to holistic well-being. It has been said that a person can live three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without air, but only three seconds without hope. The wingman concept charges everyone - officer, enlisted and civilian - to look out for one another. It's not enough to just ask how someone is doing and then wait for the obligatory one-word answer, "fine." You have to stick around and find out what follows "fine." Pay close attention to what the individual's body language is communicating and apply value to that individual's life by discussing what gives their lives hope, meaning and purpose. Together we can make a difference even if it is in the life of just one person. Being a good wingman is not just a concept, it is way of life.