CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
One thing I am very thankful for in my career is having commanders, first sergeants and supervisors who took the time to help me set goals and achieve them. There are a lot of factors that contribute to having a successful Air Force career, but one can't be achieved without having a mentor and being a mentor yourself.
When I was an Airman at my first duty assignment, I remember the struggles of learning a new job, getting familiar with new surroundings and transitioning into military. Thankfully, a staff sergeant in my office took me under his wing from day one and started providing me career guidance and working on my technical and professional development. Not only did this help me get on track quicker, but it also laid the foundation for the rest of my career.
Air Force Instruction, 36-3401, Air Force Mentoring, defines mentoring as a relationship in which a person with greater experience and wisdom guides another person to develop both personally and professionally. The Air Force can't overemphasize the importance of mentoring our junior Airmen. Supervisors are charged with being role models and taking an active role in their subordinate's development. Teaching and reinforcing the fundamentals of carrying one's self professionally and being accountable goes a long way in setting our Airmen up for success.
Mentoring can take shape in many forms. It could simply be reminding others to ensure they maintain their dress and appearance or to show up early at appointments and meetings. Encouraging others to meet and exceed fitness standards or to prepare for promotion testing is another form of mentoring. Mentoring could be a supervisor providing a road map to give subordinates to follow for the best opportunity to get to the next level and ultimately achieve their goals.
Not every supervisor is a good mentor. So what do you do if your supervisor is unable to provide the mentoring you need? Go seek additional mentoring though other sources. All good mentors make themselves available to those who seek career guidance. In fact, good mentors will often seek you if your potential is not being realized.
Since I'm no longer new to the Air Force, do I still need mentoring? Most definitely! Mentoring is an ongoing process and is just as important in the middle of a career as it is in the beginning. We always have room for improvement and for setting higher goals.
Through effective mentoring everyone is given the opportunity to reach their full potential and to prepare for the increased responsibilities they will assume as they progress in their careers. The value of good mentoring is undoubtedly priceless as it develops the Air Force's future leaders.
Mentoring -- accept it, seek it and provide it whenever possible.