Mentor

What's your position on mentors for women in the military?
Does your organization have a mentoring program?
If so, how is it implemented? Is it effective?

Webmaster note to women in all military service branches: I'd like to start a new cyber-mentor section, if you're interested in being a mentor, let me know.

Mentoring is essential to a successful career (military or otherwise). I retired as a Lt Col after 24 years in the Air Force. Along the way I had many mentors, both male and female. Mentoring is a two way street and people often forget that fact. Don't sit back waiting for someone to guide you. If you have questions about something, ask the right person. When I was looking for a new assignment many years ago, I called an old boss to ask who he knew at the unit I thought I wanted to work in. He told me a previous director was now the deputy commander. So as a captain, I called the colonel I had met maybe a half dozen times and told him I wanted to work for him. He found me a billet and I had orders in hand 11 months before my change of station. When I had a question about an assignment to Alaska, I called my first sponsor at my first duty station and got a no nonsense discussion of the benefits and drawbacks. I've also had superiors suggest I pursue this task or that to further my career. The key is to locate those individuals who are successful and ask them to help you plan your career moves.

The flip side is that every senior person has an obligation to mentor the more junior people. Take the opportunity to just talk with junior people and find out what they think. What are their desires and dreams. Offer to put them in contact with organizations and people who can help them realize those dreams. Many times junior people are intimidated by rank and are afraid to ask for help. It's up to the senior people to make suggestions and guide the junior people.

I just wanted to say that without my mentors at my first duty station I would have never made it this far. They were squared away enough to help me get squared away and not be "ate up". I owe everything to them and they are my reason for success. I pray that others have the chance that I had and will be able to get the guidance that is needed.

As a female Lt. Col. who was a "first and only" numerous times in my career...It saddens me that we must have female mentors...The best mentors in my career have been "AFSC mentors". Telling me that as a Navigator, you need to accomplish this to move ahead or you need your masters now...If mentors look at the career you are in and mentor that route, it shouldn't matter whether they are male or female. I want to hear what a mentor tells a man in my career field he needs to do to get promoted...Cause that is what I am going to do...There shouldn't be different standards for men or women. When I mentor, I mentor both males and females...because the Air Force I was in in 1980 has changed a great deal. My experiences won't be the same for someone entering now...

If I can say one thing to the young enlisted force...It is "get as much education as you can get". It will help you get promoted and maybe allow you to go to OTS...The opportunities are out there. Even if you only want to stay your four or six years, get the education...It will help you on the outside as well...Uncle Sam is paying for most of it anyway...

Mentors are absolutely necessary for the development of women in the military, especially for the future enlistees and officers. They are the ones who shape your bearing, professionalism, and most important, the way you interact with both men and women in the service branch you decide to enter.

Currently, I am in a NROTC program at the University of Kansas, Marine Option Midshipman. My mentor is a GNY SGT currently stationed at Camp Lejune, NC. Even though Gny Sgt is a male, he is a valuable asset to my career. He expected the same standards from me as were expected from any Marine or Marine Option physically and mentally, despite the fact I am the first female he was in command of during the last year he was stationed at KU. Many potential Marines have fallen out due to the strict regimen expected by Gny Sgt, so I knew that I was not given special treatment or any favors. The biggest lesson I learned from Gunny Sergeant was not to discriminate on gender, but on performance as a Marine.

To me, the only thing I need of a mentor is the Marine who accepts my limitations, and then pushes me to exceed every standard set by the Corps. Also, any male Marine that could look past the fact I was female, and realize the potential to be a Marine Officer is one of the best things the Corps has to offer for me. Many other female MOs I have talked to have not been as lucky. A few are shunned by the officers and NCOs that train future officers, and many aren't held to the same standard that a future officer of Marines should be held. Recruits and future officers all need a strong mentor, male or female, just as long as they do the job to train the female Marine effectively. Maybe a female would have the most insight on being a Marine, but no one can discount the efforts the males make to integrate women into more career fields and set higher standards as a Marine.

I attended the Dedication of the Women's Memorial. I realized that too many military women are "doing our jobs" quietly. Now that I am gaining rank, I realize I must be there for my female brethren. I must approach them and make sure they know I am there for them, if they need me. I must always "set the example" and understand I am being observed for my actions, by all. I want to share my success and I don't want someone else to make my mistakes. I want them to learn from me.

I've been associated with the military over 13 years both as enlisted and as an officer. I've seen women being mentored by majority by male soldiers and officers because that is who majority of the leaders were. The standards are based on male standards and few women really go beyond these standards. I've seen promising young women loose their ambitions because of the standards enforced upon them. Now that we have a few more women in leadership roles (regardless how one may think how they got there) we must set standards for women and encourage women to embrace the qualities endearing to them and excel regardless of what the majority male society believes. We must not think of competing against our male counter-parts but providing the best service based on our own best/good attributes or strengths. We are individuals that have strengths and weaknesses just as our male counter-parts. We must pick our own destiny and either excel or fail. Along the way chose your mentors that have qualities that we admire. If by chance there are not any mentors that we admire, learn from there faults and become a better person. Let your record show your potential and others will echo your capabilities. Have a true assessment of your weakness and improve on them. If there is a women that you find out there that is in a leadership position, understand how she got there, and chose your own path.

The military society is based on male standards and male perspective of how a women should act, think, and live. There is a cultural diversity within our society that is different then the traditional work place. In Corporate America, people are judged by their personnel contribution to the work place not as much as a physical contribution. The military is based on physical contribution and perception of how one should look. This is the culture that we consciously decided to enter into. If we look at our evaluation system for both officers and enlisted; what is the "flag" to get rid of a person. Physical fitness and height/weight standards. If someone is just getting by in their occupation competency his/her evaluation doesn't truly reflect this. He/she can move up in the system based on education and possibly demanding to go before a promotion board based on time in service with no documented cause other wise. Where are our standards. Don't miss understand me, I believe we must be proud of the uniform that we wear and we must keep in shape but when physical fitness is the crux for our system then occupation proficiency, I get concerned.

I've seen too many young men and women get promoted that are not ready for the responsibilities of the next rank. While we are mentoring, we must ensure that with our promotion system, soldiers are able to handle all responsibilities of the next rank. That is what mentoring is all about. While we are in leadership position we must be the voice to change a culture but at the same time we must comply but we must also make it better for the future women. We must not forget to mentor the men under us because that is who will change the culture.

I would like to add my comments about mentoring female Air Force members, particularly those who are "firsts" or "onlies". We can all be elated at the opening of many career fields to women, especially those involving flying. But the Air Force, and particularly senior female leaders, must try much harder to mentor those women who are "the first" or "the only". Often they are isolated, surrounded only by male leaders who don't know how to mentor men, much less women. Those males who would like to guide a younger female officer may be afraid of doing so for fear of gender issues like favoritism and harassment. Female Air Force colonels are few and far between, but they need to be aware of who the younger women are in their units and on their base and they need to seek these young women out to let them know that at least one successful Air Force officer knows how hard it is to be "the first" or "the only". I think it would be terrific if the Air Force institutionalized such an effort - assigned "the first" and "the only" with a female mentor, one who has truly mastered leadership, followership, and achieved success.

FYI -- I am an Air Force ROTC student, third year. In our Aerospace Studies class this semester, one of the topics has been mentoring. So for those of you who feel the topic hasn't been broached, be assured that, at least in the Air Force, the importance of mentoring (and being mentored!) is now literally taught to future officers.

While there is no formal mentor program at my base, as a female Senior NCO, I try to mentor the young females entering my particular career field. What I see in a lot of cases, is they don't want to excel because they don't want attention drawn to themselves. They want to be like everyone else and simply follow the crowd. And most have no plans on making the military a career. I think a mentor program might change their minds, but they have to be willing to speak up and be heard!

The Public Affairs career field has established a mentoring program that's mandatory for all lieutenants and for captains who cross trained into the career field. These individuals are assigned an 0-5 or 0-6 to be their mentor. It's a fairly new program, but I've already received such great advice about career choices, professional development, etc., from my mentor. I think it's a great program, and I'm thankful my mentor takes this program seriously and truly takes the time to listen to my concerns. It's important for junior enlisted and officers to develop a relationship with a mentor early on in their careers.

Of course, I admire other people who aren't "assigned" as my mentor, as well as people in other careers. For me, I actively seek advice and try to develop relationships with people whom I admire and trust. I have a handful of people I consider my mentors. It's helped me tremendously in my quest to be a better PA and officer.

Just read comments on the need for mentoring for servicewomen. I totally support the concept and am in that position myself. I am a WW11 Vet (Army Air Corps WAC). For the last four years have served on a committee formed by our Governor to advise on issues frequently presenting problems for women in the military, active and veterans. The Committee is representative of all services and all periods of war and peace. Young and old with varying experiences have worked successfully together on this Committee to address important tasks, i.e. surveying over 4,000 women veterans in our State and producing a resource guide for all agencies, veterans' organizations, VA facilities, etc who deal with women veterans' issues. As a WIMSA Field Rep. I have many opportunities to meet and talk with other women veterans and active duty servicewomen. I belong to the WAC Veterans Association and have an opportunity there to support, advise, counsel other military women and veterans. I also read with interest the account of the person who described a positive mentoring situation she was in and the mentor was a man. That's great.

Our mentors should be our bosses and our fellow servicewomen. It's kind of sad that that doesn't always happen naturally. Maybe it is necessary to make it into a "program." I'm just not sure how effective it would be. It's kinda like trying to create a family support group. You can try and try but, if the families don't want to support it, then it will never get off the ground.

Currently there is no formal program....I have been in for 14 years and have just decided to chose my mentors by seeking those soldiers/male or female who live the traits and principles of leadership. Though it seems as you move up in the ranks there seems to be fewer mentors to find. But I continue to drive on.

Yes, I do believe women need mentors, particularly women who are trailblazing in traditionally male dominated career fields. As a young lieutenant in the USAF, I was fortunate to have a wonderful supervisor at my first duty assignment. This supervisor (he was a major) supervised me and three of my peers (all men, all lieutenants like myself). This major represented all the good things a supervisor could be. He led by example, he was caring, demanding, tolerant, and always managed to make the four of us strive to do our best. He provided a solid foundation for our successful careers. I speak in the plural because this supervisor made no distinction between me and my three peers. He afforded us equal opportunity to succeed or fail. Throughout my succeeding military years, despite the distance, I found myself frequently turning to this former supervisor for career advice and guidance. I always realized how respected this man was when a new boss or commander would tell me "Col XX speaks very highly of you" (fortunately the USAF recognized this man's potential by promoting him to Colonel). Too many times I've seen young female officers fail miserably only to learn they never had the benefit of a mentor. I fully believe women in uniform need a seasoned officer or senior NCO to coach them along to help them prepare for a successful career. This is not to imply having a good mentor will prevent someone from suffering failure or making poor decisions, but then again, it just may.

I am also interested in mentoring a woman in the military. I retired from the US Army after 21 years in 1999. I can be emailed at emeraldine.gordon@us.army.mil This is a great service to anyone willing to take advantage of it.

CW3(R) Emeraldine Gordon

I just retired from the Navy in January 2000 as an Aviation Electronics Technician - AT1(AW). I would love the opportunity to mentor any woman entering the Navy or currently in the Navy. I whole-heartedly agree that mentoring is a crucial area. There were many highlights in my career that would not have occurred had it not been for my mentors. If anyone would like to discuss life for a Navy woman feel free to email me at silky57@hotmail.com . I'd love to help.

Posted: 22 Apr 03:

I am an Active Duty Air Force Staff Sergeant. I have been in the Air Force for 11 years. With out all the mentors I have had in my career I would not have made the professional progress that I have. I believe that mentoring is a vital part to a person's success not only in the military, but in life.

OPINION:

Mentors for Military Women