What is the Wingman Project

The Wingman Project is the “Total Air Force” (Active, Guard, Reserve) variant of the Joint Suicide Intervention Program (J-SIP).   The Army variant is known as the Battle Buddies Project, while the Navy version is the Shipmates Project.  J-SIP promotes a layperson approach where all military members and their loved ones are taught to intervene to save a life.

The purpose of the Wingman Project is to provide training, awareness, and outreach to teach Warfighters and their families how to identify symptoms of impending suicide and then intervene to save a life.  Using the technique known as ACE (Ask Care Escort), members and families learn how to help each other through a crisis including getting the professional help needed right away.  The Wingman Project is complementary to existing suicide prevention programs and fits hand in glove with the more robust ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) used by many bases.

Background

Originally funded by the Director, Air National Guard (ANG), the project is designed to be customized and used at the state and local unit level.  At many units, the Family Support Coordinator or the Wing Chaplain leads the effort.  However, the final decision of how and when to use the project rests with the Wing Commander or equivalent.

The Wingman Project was created in August 2007 by the Deputy Director of Safety of the Air National Guard as a collaborative solution, including chaplains, family support, medical community, and safety, for all Airmen and their families to address suicide intervention.  Since then, the project has been endorsed by the US Air Force and the Department of Defense, receiving a HQ Air Force “Best Practice” in July 2009.    

The Wingman Project consists of courseware, training materials, and printed outreach products.  Most Wingman related training occurs in the classroom at the various bases where it is used.  The associated Wingman Project websites are the property of Hangar 30, Inc., under contract by Blue Tech, Inc, for exclusive use by the Department of Defense.  All advertising on this site is non-profit for use by the Air National Guard, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense. The contents of this site are entirely not for profit.

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