RAF FELTWELL, England — Taking a page from Gen. Robert H. Fogelsong’s book, Lakenheath Middle School has created a Junior Wingman program to stress the need for students to help one another.

Betsy Rymer, the school’s physical education teacher, came up with the idea for the program, which was introduced to the school during an assembly Friday.

“As a teacher, we’re always looking for ways to have kids help each other,” she said.

She knew of the Combat Wingman program, one of several initiatives by Fogelsong, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and modeled Junior Wingman after that.

Home-room teachers will assign students their wingman this week, Jannett Klinke, the school principal, said during the assembly.

The wingmen will check in with each other daily to make sure all is well. They might help each other with assignments or help with lessons if one of them misses school.

“Sometimes just saying good morning to your wingman will be an appropriate thing to do,” Klinke told the students.

Kicking off the assembly, Lt. Col. Joe Beissner, a fighter pilot with the 494th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, explained the wingman concept in the Air Force, when pilots look out for one another in the sky.

“We fighter guys never ever fly alone,” he said. “We need our buddy to check us out.”

Klinke and Noni Hoag, the assistant principal, used the assembly to recognize five sixth-graders who already showed the “wingman” mentality. On March 3, when a classmate became sick at a bus stop after school, the five students cared for her and her anxious sister and also found an adult to help.

Bria Alexander, Courtney Alford, Elvis Bernat, Briana Barrs and Selena Lamont were all recognized with a certificate noting their efforts to help their friend. They were also presented a coin from the Isles School District.

Carrie Ashby, a school aide, was also recognized for her efforts after being alerted by the students. The ill child is doing well.

Migrated