Photo By Ensign Greg Hall | 180215-N-OT701-028 NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (Feb. 23, 2018) Lt. j.g. Erika...... read more read more
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“Master Chief Brian Skeete was my DLCPO (departmental leading chief petty officer) when I was a petty officer second class,” said Lt. j.g. Erika Mecum, from Dallas, Texas, the assistant first lieutenant in deck department aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). “He pushed me every day to do better. At first it was hard to take, but eventually I saw that it was for the best, [and he changed my life].”
African-Americans, like Skeete, have been serving honorably in the Navy for centuries, setting an outstanding example of honor, courage and commitment among all of those they serve with.
Although the Navy recognizes this excellence year round, during Black History Month the Navy highlights African-American trailblazers like April D. Beldo, the first African-American female command master chief of an aircraft carrier, Jesse LeRoy Brown, the first African-American aviator in the U.S. Navy, and Carl Brashear, the first African-American to become a U.S. Navy Master Diver, all of whom were examples to future generations of African-American Sailors. Some may have even served as mentors to younger generations.
For this year’s Black History Month, Mecum recognizes Skeete for everything he has done for her as her mentor.
Mecum said that seeing someone of her own race leading Sailors made her want to work harder. Seeing the effort that he put in every day made her not want to let him down.
“He said that I did not have to stay enlisted and to aim as high as I wanted to go,” said Mecum. “He told me that getting schooling would help with advancement and help me to become an officer. He really pushed me. I earned my bachelor’s degree then, but now I am working on my master’s degree for myself now.”
A good mentor was pivotal in Mecum’s advancement and success in multiple aspects of not only her Navy life, but also her personal life.
African-American Sailors can pave the way by being mentors to those that follow. Mentors help influence decisions by leading others by example.
“All of my uncles were prior military,” said Mecum. “I wanted to be on a path similar to the one they were on, and I decided to join the Navy right out of high school. I liked how professional they looked in uniform.”
Mecum said that her uncles were an example to her. They were different from the people around her.
“A lot of people around me weren’t on the correct path,” said Mecum. “Seeing someone like one of my uncles, on the correct path with passion, helped me see they were making something of themselves. That is influenced me and made me want to join.”
Mentorship is vital to junior Sailors. It helps shape who they are and impacts who they will become. Part of the mentor’s creed says, “Help as many people as possible reach their own personal level of success.”
“When I was commissioned, I asked him to be my guest speaker, and he commissioned me at the ceremony,” said Mecum. “To see him there meant so much. He spoke about how he had worked to mold me, and it was awesome to hear that. It made it that much more worth it to have him there and speak those words.”
Mentorship goes both ways and leaders will also learn from the process. This is why many leaders are always looking for the opportunity to be a mentor.
“I really try to work with the Boatswain’s Mates in Deck Department,” said Chief Warrant Officer Andre D. Amos, from Hampton, Ark., the Ship’s Boatswain’s Mate (Bos’n) aboard Nimitz.
Amos said that he also teaches petty officers second classes supervisory skills. He helps them with career guidance and advises Sailors on choosing orders for where they should go next to advance their career.
“I show Sailors who are interested how I became a warrant officer,” said Amos. “I show them my officer packet and tell them what I did. I even give them copies so they can compare it to what they are working on. The Navy can be easy if someone shows you what you need to do.”
Good mentors work hard to influence others and make changes around themselves.
“I saw a lot of things that I wanted to change,” said Mecum. “I also wanted to show other young women that they can make the transition from enlisted to officer. That is why I decided to become an officer.”
Sailors can find mentors in their workplace, but they are encouraged to look for inspiration in U.S. Navy history.
“There are a lot of examples that African-Americans can look to,” said Amos. “When I heard about Carl Brashear it made me realize that I don’t have it as bad as he did. I am thankful for him and that he paved the way for people like me.”
Finding a mentor is important for each Sailor’s time in the Navy. A mentor can provide advice and direction to Sailors. Ultimately, each Sailor needs to become a mentor that someone else can rely on.
“Master Chief Skeete showed me how a mentor can make a difference in a person’s life,” said Mecum. “His example makes me want to work harder in my own life. It makes me want to be a better mentor to the Sailors I work with now.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2018 17:54 |
| Story ID: | 267427 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 541 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Black History Month: A Heritage of Mentorship, by ENS Greg Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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