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JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command recently rolled out its Mentoring Program and it aligns with January being recognized as National Mentoring Month.
The TRADOC Mentoring Program has many different components, one specifically being the Cohort Mentoring Program.
“By investing in mentoring, TRADOC demonstrates its commitment to the development and success of its civilian professionals, ultimately contributing to the overall strength and capability of the command, said Stephanie Brown, Program Manager of the TRADOC Mentoring Program. “Our mentoring program is crucial for supporting TRADOC's objectives, fostering continuous learning and growth, allocating resources effectively, promoting long-term relationships, facilitating knowledge transfer, enhancing professional skillsets, and building a supportive community within our organization.”
Charlene Smith from G1/4 Personnel and Logistics became a mentor to two employees in September 2023.
“I am part of the Army Coaching Program and was given the opportunity to become a certified coach through the George Mason University Leadership Coaching Program,” Smith said. “It made sense that I would give back by doing my part to support the mentoring program. It’s particularly rewarding to coach and mentor a fellow TRADOC Army Civilian Professional.”
To begin the process, Smith filled out the application and took the necessary mentor training. She was also encouraged to follow key guidelines to include goal alignment, reflective practice, knowledge sharing, constructive feedback and perspective expansion.
“By adhering to these guidelines, mentors can effectively support their mentees' growth and development, foster a positive mentoring relationship, and contribute to the overall success of the program,” Brown said.
Smith said her mentor-mentee experience has been very rewarding and exciting.
“I have been energized by the excellence, drive, and commitment of my mentees. This experience reemphasized that I have the responsibility, experience, connections, and skills to make a difference in the career and well-being of my colleagues,” she said. “It’s a motivating and growing experience for me as well.”
One of Smith’s mentees, Meredith Arnold, who works with the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., signed up for the mentoring program in August 2023 and was matched with Smith a month later.
“This program really helps broaden the view of the mentee,” she said. “Before I started, I really only had a full understanding on my organization. I didn't really understand what positions were available in TRADOC outside of instructors, education specialists, and quality assurance, even though I knew there had to be more out there. Since talking with Charlene, I'm starting to explore other opportunities, and to look at my experience and skills from a broader, TRADOC perspective.”
For TRADOC's Cohort Mentor Program, which runs from Sept. 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, the mentor-mentee pairings are thoughtfully crafted through a meticulous manual process.
“This involved a careful evaluation of skillsets and an in-depth analysis of the mentoring objectives expressed by each mentee in their application,” Brown said. “As the TRADOC Mentor Program manager, I personally reviewed and assessed each mentor and mentee application to ensure alignment of goals and capabilities.”
Based on Smith and Arnold’s instant connection, the matching process proved to be successful.
“This has been one of the best mentorship experiences of my life. Charlene is always willing to listen to my questions and helps me explore what I can't put into words,” Arnold said. “As a result, she has recommended reading material and training opportunities. She's given me excellent advice that I've been able to put into practice immediately. I'm already seeing an improvement in my organization and prioritization, which has had positive impacts on my work life and relationships with my peers and subordinates.”
Although they are physically located in two different states, Smith and Arnold try to communicate regularly via email and video teleconference calls.
“[Charlene] is fun to talk with. I honestly look forward to our mentorship sessions and am never afraid to ask questions or for her perspective on a situation I'm struggling with,” Arnold said.
Although Smith has an active workload, she always finds the time to connect with her mentees.
“Spending time with Meredith, and my other mentee, inspires me and reminds me how rewarding coaching and leading our future leaders is,” she said. “Both of my mentees are exceptionally impressive and competent and are truly committed to Soldiers and TRADOC.”
Various methods and key performance indicators are employed to assess the effectiveness of TRADOC's Mentoring Program to include goal achievement, civilian professional satisfaction, skill development, mentorship relationship quality, and feedback loop.
Smith has one piece of advice for personnel wondering if they should participate.
“Volunteer to be part of the TRADOC Mentoring Program – you still have something to offer and there are many out there who can benefit from your experience and wisdom,” Smith said. “The time demand isn’t excessive and is well worth your effort.”
For those who are interested in becoming a mentor, the process can be completed three ways: complete the application at www.tradoc.army.mil/mentoring-portal; reach out to your mentoring coordinator; or reach out to your Career Field Program Manager.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2024 09:25 |
| Story ID: | 462677 |
| Location: | FORT EUSTIS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 371 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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