Speed mentoring gives glimpse into future

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  In conjunction with the Ramstein Air Force Association Chapter 507, the Total Force Development Council hosted a speed mentoring session for enlisted Airmen March 28, at the Southside Chapel on Ramstein Air Base.

The AFA-led event gave nearly 20 Airmen, through ranks of airman to technical sergeant, the opportunity to obtain knowledge from mentors including senior NCOs, officers and retirees.

"You have diversity through the different career fields and different mentors who brought so much to the table," Senior Master Sgt. Roelma Wood, Air Force Installation Mission Support Center Detachment 4 major command functional manager for security forces. "I think that it's awesome (Airmen) can get out of their bubble."

The event began with a quick lunch, in which the participants were able to chat with each other about whatever they wanted.

Afterward, the facilitator opened the floor for mentors to give a brief introduction to allow mentees a chance to gauge what questions they wanted to ask.

Each mentor and mentee pair got five minutes together. Topics included promotion testing, commissioning opportunities and assignments.

"It was really cool," said Senior Airman Nadine Peterson, 86th Security Forces Squadron armorer. "Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but my supervisor thought it would be really good for me. I'm about to (make a permanent change of station) and test for staff (sergeant). I came and got some really cool apps to help study and info about where I'm going, and a lot of people (I talked to) are going to mail me information."

Though the pairs were allowed only five minutes during the event, all mentees were encouraged to get contact information from anyone they connected with so they could re-engage later.

"I think a lot of people got some good tips of wisdom," said retired Master Sgt. Ali Rivers, 86th Aerospace Medicine Squadron medical standards management element manager. "I think they'll be able to go forward and do a better job now because a little bit of mentoring goes a long way."

Like the AFA's membership, the mentors represented different career fields and stages of the military lifestyle, which made for a more dynamic overall mentoring session for the younger Airmen as the mentoring didn't focus solely on life in the military.

"The reason why I volunteered for this is because the biggest thing I see in what they are lacking on the active-duty side is they only have active-duty mentors," said Maj. Brian Zajick, 9001st Air Reserve Squadron Air Force Academy air liaison officer. "You may become a chief or a general, but at the end of the day, you don't know. If you get out and all you have is active-duty mentors, you've just done a disservice to yourself by not talking to somebody that's been out for a couple of years."

Zajick said many times mentoring sessions focus on an Airman's life in the military, but it is just as important to focus on a person's life after the military, whether that happens through separation or retirement.

Though the sessions were quick and varied, each mentor did his or her best to ensure they gave the mentees a glimpse of their possible future.