TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Cold temperatures and brisk winds didn’t stop hundreds from attending the first inaugural ‘Wing It Together Resiliency and Sports Day’ event at Tinker Air Force Base Oct. 27.
The event is aimed to build resiliency and focus on it’s four pillars which include mental, physical, social and spiritual.
According to DAF Resilience program, it is important for us to connect and get to know each other beyond the uniform because the more we know about each other, the better we can support each other to live our best lives.
Each member of Team Tinker, including the Navy and Canadian Detachment, were welcome to participate. Games ranged from Ultimate Frisbee, Football, Softball, Kickball, Pickleball, 3-on-3 basketball, Volleyball, Cornhole, 5K Run/Walk and a 2K fun run. For non-sports fans, an e-sports trailer was available for participants to play video games.
Capt. Esau Galindo, 552nd Air Control Wing and 1st Lt Tyler Daily, 72nd Air Base Wing, were project officers for the event.
Daily says this event would not have been possible without the support from a team of people base wide.
“To have a support system like that was phenomenal,” said Daily. “Across the base, across the wing, it was amazing.”
An opening ceremony kicked off the day of events, giving organizers and base leadership an opportunity to speak directly to attendees. Among the speakers were Tinker Installation and 72nd Air Base Wing Commander, Col. Abby Ruscetta, who encouraged members of Team Tinker to meet someone new at the event.
“We are out here to take care of each other, we are out to make connections,” said Ruscetta. “Make sure to connect with someone else, focus on their resilience and support one another.”
“Take a little breather from work and build on the four pillars of resiliency,” said Daily. “You get all of your friends together and compete against someone in a really friendly competition. You then see them later in the halls and that help builds a sense of familiarity among us.”
In all, 595 people registered to participate in the first inaugural ‘Wing It Together Resiliency and Sports Day’ event.
“There is a community here, you are not alone in all of this,” said Daily. “Whatever happens, you have friends and a community that you can lean on for support. All you need to do is just reach out, ask, they are there.”
The 552nd Air Control Wing came in first place in the competition, followed by the 72nd Air Base Wing. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex came in third. The winners were announced during a closing ceremony.