Culture of responsible choices: Wingmen play key role in first-termer arrival

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Breyson Robinson
  • 10th Missile Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Arriving to a first duty station as a new Airman is challenging. In-processing, dormitory life, career development courses and many other factors contribute to the stress and anguish tied to the firt-termer. 

But when you work hard, you play hard. Having a fun-filled and stress-free environment outside of work is important to, if nothing else, maintain individuality and some form of sanity. Although, along with this should come good judgment and responsible decisions. 

Making responsible choices isn't always the hardest or easiest thing to do, but it could mean your co-worker's life. 

The Wingman concept is more important than we understand at times.
All you have to do is watch out for your friend and make sure they don't do anything different, dumb or dangerous, right? What could possibly go wrong? 

The split-decision making of today's Airman could mean the difference between passing your buddy the salt at the dining facility and handing the flag to their families in their honor. 

Taking just a few seconds to line up a designated driver or checking up on someone new to the base is essential to welcoming them to Malmstrom, introducing them to the wingman concept and the importance behind it. 

How the Airman's Council fits in 

Since the culture of responsible choices should be an incessant practice, the Airman's Council is geared toward providing fun, safe and career-enhancing alternatives to new Airman and the base populace. 

The Detour Airmen's Center, run and maintained by enlisted Airmen in the ranks of E-1 to E-4, was recently remodeled. The Detour is partly funded by the chapel, and offers an alcohol-free environment for Airmen to enjoy searching the Web with free Internet access, playing video games, or playing music in a soundproof music room while enjoying free refreshments.. 

The Detour also hosts free movie nights every Tuesday. 

If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact Julie Weisman at 731-4116. 

The Airman's Council is a non-profit organization run by Airmen. The AC 's purpose is to be the voice of the Airmen to base leadership and other organizations to fund programs such as classes, events, parties and events Airman have expressed their interest in. 

Members are always needed to provide fresh ideas and feedback. The Airman's Council holds meetings on a flexible basis and a mass e-mail is sent to the Airmen on base with details about the meeting's agenda, location and time. 

Recently the Airman's Council has conducted a number of base activities including the Hoops for Charity basketball tournament, Hip-Hop dance classes, various video game tournaments, fund raisers and sponsoring the base picnic dunk-tank. 

If you have any questions or comments, contact Airman 1st Class Robinson at breyson.robinson@malmstrom.af.mil.