Stop, listen, connect with fellow Airmen Published Nov. 7, 2014 By Lt. Col. Jeremy Reeves 6th Air Refueling commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The end of the year is upon us. This means many different things: temperatures are finally getting cooler, kids soon will be out of school for their holiday break, their sports will be in full swing, the holidays are rapidly approaching with less than 50 shopping days until Christmas, you're traveling or your family is coming to visit and you have a myriad of parties to attend. Oh, yeah, there's also a global mission to execute. There's a lot on your plate. We are being pulled in so many different directions this time of year, it is understandable if all of our focus is internal to us and our immediate family. Sure, we buy gifts for friends and family and we may donate time and money to a good cause, but what about our wingmen? We pass each other in the hallway working from task to task, trying to meet that call of business suspense and may have superficial discussions about last night's game or the latest viral video. How often do we take a few extra minutes to truly connect with our fellow Wingmen? I'm not saying we must become best friends forever with everyone in the office. Indeed, you will stress yourself out attempting to have a close personal relationship with everyone in the squadron. There is simply not enough time in the day. What I'm talking about is taking a few extra minutes to stop, listen and connect. Don't continue walking down the hallway when you ask someone, "How are you today?" Instead, stop, look your wingman in the eye, listen to what they say and, just as important, how they say it. The majority of communication comes through body language. If we do not take the time to look for those nonverbal indicators, we will probably miss what our fellow wingmen are actually trying to tell us. I challenge you to do this at least once a day. Pick out a wingman you have only spoken to briefly in the past and strike up a conversation. Oftentimes, a simple, "How are things going?" is enough to get someone to open up and create a connection. If they are really struggling with an issue, you may be surprised just how much they open up. You may be the first to identify a fellow wingman in distress. When we are faced with a difficult problem, many of us naturally seek a listening ear. All too often, we are so focused on the problem we are unable to see any kind of a solution on our own, so we suffer in silence. Only when someone offers that listening ear and a fresh perspective are we able to unpack the problem and realize there are so many resources available to us through the Airman & Family Readiness Center, Military OneSource and many other avenues. I challenge you to be the one who reminds the wingman in distress those resources are there for them. There is a lot going on in your life. There is also someone in your office facing difficulties and suffering in silence. Take a few minutes today to stop, listen and connect. Not only will you help them and thereby help the wing execute its global mission, you also will do something that will make you feel good.