Ready...set...mentor!

  • Published
  • By Delanie Stafford
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  A special event held April 15 at the Patriot Club gave junior enlisted members a chance to meet with senior enlisted members from across Team Offutt' who took turns providing tips for what it takes to build a successful career.

The hour-long speed-mentoring event was similar to speed-dating, but instead of discussing personal relationships, topics focused around leadership, education and career development.

"It's a really good way to get that quick hit of information. You get a lot of different perspectives as everyone is able to talk to at least 15 different people from staff sergeants to colonels," said Senior Airman Jack Finch who is the president of Offutt's Elite Four organization.

Participants had three minutes to talk with senior leadership about anything they'd like. When the bell rang, the 60 participants moved to the next mentor in line until the hour was up. This provided exposure to a wide range of experience and career advice. Finch said the informal setting provides an opportunity to make connections that often lead to valuable follow-up conversations.

"The junior enlisted really don't have any way to get out there to learn from those outside of their chain of command," said Airman 1st Class Evelyn Hernandez who serves as the secretary of the Elite Four, and who also participated in the event. "Finch and I really felt passionate about that and decided to move forward to create some events to encourage that."

Mentorship experience ranged from first sergeants to officers to retired Air Force members who are now federal employees. Although many would have preferred more than three minutes with each mentor, it provided just enough time to exchange contact information and gain some useful information without the anxiety of a conversation stalling out.

"What I liked most about the meeting with the seniors leaders was the relaxed atmosphere," said Senior Airman Anthony Ragland, who works in wing scheduling for the 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron. "There was no tension - everybody wanted to learn from each other."

Organizers had only planned for 30 participants but quickly expanded it to 60 when they received an overwhelming response. They said the event was successful in providing a lot of good career advice to our military's future leaders.

"The type of advice I received was: in order to become a great leader, you first need to become a great follower," Ragland said. "Care for the people you're leading - take time to really get to know them and earn their trust. Once you have established trust and respect as a leader and a follower, there's nothing you can't achieve as a unit."

"I talked to 14 Airmen and discussed many things, focused on two main topics: career and education," said U.S. Air Force Maj. James Vickery who is an executive officer at U.S. Strategic Command and a volunteer mentor. "My first piece of advice was to do the very best job possible where they are, right now. Even if the job is challenging, they must find the nugget of satisfaction that keeps them going. This serves to build a personal reputation of excellence and can lead to opportunities that others who are waiting on the 'greener pasture job' will miss out on.

"My second piece of advice was to make continual progress on their education, especially in technical fields if pursuing a commission," Vickery said. "I used my experience as an example - 12 years to complete my bachelor's degree, a little at a time, on and between deployments, but I earned my degree and commission."

Mentoring programs such as this are also beneficial to leadership.

"As leaders we need to get to know our troops face to face, not 'mentoring by media'," Vickery said. "Our troops want to do the right thing in most cases, and interacting on a personal level shows our Airmen that they are more than numbers. Our job as leaders is to help our Airmen visualize and understand their role, and lead them - not manage them."

This was the first time for a speed-mentoring event at Offutt and organizers with the Elite Four plan to make it an annual event. They are also currently developing a one-on-one mentorship program. Junior enlisted members who would like more information on the Elite Four organization or available mentoring programs can contact Senior Airman Jack Finch at 294-4699.

"The Elite Four just really provides a lot of benefits for the junior enlisted to gain some knowledge, and to move on with their career," Hernandez said.