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    My 'Ah-ha' Moment

    THE PENTAGON, DC, UNITED STATES

    09.03.2015

    Courtesy Story

    U.S. Army Career Program 26

    By Frances Rivera

    **Editors Note** Ms. Frances Rivera is a Manpower Analyst assigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (OACSIM), Headquarters, Department of the Army. She graduated from the Functional Area 50 (FA50) Force Management Qualification Course, Defense Resource Management Course and the Department of the Army Intern Program in 2013. She earned a Master of Science Degree from Columbia College in 2011. Currently, she is advising OACSIM senior leaders on the most effective ways to balance end strength within constrained resources during this time of significant change.

    As my CP26 journey continues, I’m discovering that building relationships is an important aspect of growth, both professionally and personally. My 'ah-ha' moment occurred during my first year as an intern. A wise leader advised me to get out of my cubicle and start building relationships with those in my agency, so I began to volunteer for committees and projects. I figured this was the easiest way to get to know my fellow co-workers and to stop being a 'cubicle junkie.' Soon after, I developed mentoring bonds with co-workers and leaders throughout the manpower and force management community. That 'ah-ha' moment changed my attitude about my career. I enjoyed coming to work each day and always had something to smile about.

    There are many resources available to assist you on your mentor-seeking journey. One useful tool I use to request mentors, both military and civilian, is Army Career Tracker (ACT) located at https://actnow.army.mil. The process is simple and takes less than five minutes to complete. First, you search the mentor database within ACT to find the leader you wish to add as your mentor. Second, ACT will send an email to your requested mentor asking them to accept your request. Once your mentor accepts your request, they will have access to your ACT information, as long as you don’t mark it private. Third, you can track the status of your mentor requests at your ACT homepage. Currently, I am connected with at least three mentors in ACT and my portfolio continues to grow. How many are you connected to?

    Another useful tool is the DoD Civilian Personnel Advisory Service (DCPAS) Mentoring Toolkit located at https://dodhrinfo.cpms.osd.mil/. This toolkit provides information for a formal mentoring program and ways to reinforce effective mentoring between a mentor and mentee.

    Your relationship with one mentor may differ from the other. This is because each experience is unique and provides a different perspective. For me, I look for mentors who are unbiased coaches, motivated leaders and confident advisers. Based upon their knowledge and professional experiences, they are able to assist me with developing realistic career goals. They are willing to help me expand my network portfolio and arrange special projects for my professional development. Furthermore, they are just as important today as they were the first day we met.

    My passion and interest in self-development and improvement keeps me connected to my mentors. I continuously contact them for advice on my future career path. They are role models and examples for me to emulate. I am a firm believer that habitual relationships equal strong networks all because of that 'ah-ha' moment. So, what will your 'ah-ha' moment be?

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.03.2015
    Date Posted: 09.04.2015 10:44
    Story ID: 175275
    Location: THE PENTAGON, DC, US

    Web Views: 79
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN