Wingmen save lives on and off the battlefield Published Dec. 16, 2013 By 2nd Lt. Carly A. Costello 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- (This feature is the final installment of a three part series on drinking and driving prevention.) Being in the military is not just a career or a job, it's a way of life. When someone joins the military, they are joining a family. For the Air Force, when an Airman joins, they become a wingman to all other Airmen. Being a good wingman is something Airmen hear all the time. It means helping out others, and making sure they are safe and making the right choices anytime, anywhere. "Applying the wingman concept is important on duty and off duty, on base and off base, in the air and on the ground," said U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander. "It is a necessity for every Airman." Being a good wingman is especially important when it comes to drinking responsibly and preventing others from driving under the influence. The holidays can be a joyous time that brings parties and celebrations with family and friends. It can also bring depression and darker times for those who may be separated from their families. In either scenario, the wingman concept comes into place. "From the bottom up, we as a family need to take steps to ensure our brothers and sisters in arms are safe and taken care of responsibly," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Dave Ortegon, Chair for the Chief Cares DUI Prevention program within the Offutt Chiefs Group. "We have the right to have a good time, but it is also imperative to be responsible Airmen." Whether an Airman goes out to a party, drinks and decides to drive home or maybe they are depressed and turn to alcohol to try to solve their problems, it's the duty of all Airmen to make sure their peers get to where they need to go safely, something that those who volunteer for Airmen Against Drunk Driving see quite often. "On one occasion, an Airman noticed one of his peers roaming a bar by himself," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Wilson Honeycutt, Offutt AADD president. "He immediately called AADD and waited with him until we arrived. Who knows what could've happened if he had not been spotted." Every day in the United States, 28 people die as a result of drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Throughout the year, Offutt leadership continues to stress the importance of having a plan and not being embarrassed or afraid to reach out when a plan fails. They are asking Airmen to not only be a wingman outside of work but approach their decisions like they would at work, using a "Checklist Mentality," said Jack Sweet, 55th Wing Community Support coordinator. "Using a checklist mentality is something military members can relate to," Sweet said. "It gets them thinking before they go out or before they have a couple drinks to make sure they have a plan, just like you would before you would get in an airplane and take off." As airmen prepare to celebrate the upcoming holidays, leadership wants to remind Team Offutt to watch out for their fellow wingman. "The role a wingman plays in DUI prevention cannot be overstated," Guillot said. "Being a good, disciplined wingman is important at all times." If your plan falls through and find yourself without a ride this holiday season, please call your first sergeant, Happy Cab at 402-239-0110 or AADD at 402-294-2233.