U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Vicen’te Thompkins, 337th Air Control Squadron weapons simulation technician, spent his first 18 years in Augusta, Georgia,knowing exactly what it was like to navigate adolescence without a father figure. Having learned the hard way that trouble is always easy to find, Thompkins promised himself that if he ever had the chance, he would become the mentor he needed as a child.
As a teenager, Thompkins heavily relied on football to instill discipline and self-respect. He was on a full-ride athletic scholarship well into his senior year of college and preparing for a professional career when back-to-back knee injuries altered his path and led him to the Air Force. While his career path changed, his passion for coaching and mentoring never faded.
"I went through what I went through before the military by trial and error," Thompkins said. "A lot of times, there’s a kid out there who, if they just had guidance, would turn out way different. I want them to know it’s possible to be something they never thought of."
Today, Thompkins is keeping that promise by weaving mentorship directly into his everyday life through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Panama City, Florida, where he provides consistent, hands-on guidance to his "little," JT.
"I’m not in it for me, I’m in it for them," Thompkins said. "When I share the knowledge I have and see them succeed, it brings me a joy I can't explain. There’s no gimmick and no ulterior motive; I’m solely here for them to be successful."
Beyond his relationship with JT, Thompkins mentors students at Rosenwald High School on a weekly basis to provide support where he can. On the weekends, he shifts his focus to the field, serving as a youth football coach to teach local children the same teamwork, discipline and self-respect that shaped his own childhood.
Thompkins’ promise to himself is most evident in his relationship with JT. According to Thompkins, when he first met JT three years ago, JT was shy, struggled with school attendance and seemed content to “simply go with the flow.” Thompkins quickly realized the teenager was far from a troublemaker, but instead a young man who needed a push in the right direction and someone to hold him accountable.
“It’s been very great … I wanted to leave the program because bigs were just in and out. And then when he came, it changed, and I felt a connection,” JT said during an interview with a local news station.
Thompkins set goals for JT, offering motivational incentives, like a brand-new pair of basketball shoes for Christmas if he brought his grades up and stayed out of trouble. Within six months, JT completely transformed his attitude and developed a new sense of self-discipline.
"At the beginning, it was always, 'somebody did this, somebody did that,'" Thompkins said. "But he started coming to me and saying, 'I know I got a bad grade because I didn't do this, but I'm going to do this to fix it.' When he started bringing me the problem and the solution, that’s when I knew I was getting to him."
Thompkins doesn’t limit his mentorship to formal outings, but instead integrates JT into his daily routine, whether playing basketball, teaching him how to fish, checking a car's oil or inviting him over for a family cookout.
"I just thought about it one day: How often do I wash my car or go fishing with my son?" Thompkins said. "A lot of the stuff I do every day, he can just come along with. These kids really just want your time and attention, and when you stop thinking of it as a duty, it becomes easy."
His relentless dedication over the past three years has culminated in more than 3,000 hours of community service. Because of this extensive work, Thompkins recently earned two major honors: the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Northwest Florida Big Brothers Big Sisters Ronald Mobayed Big of the Year award.
For Thompkins, receiving these awards and being coined by his squadron commander is a humbling validation of his efforts. He said the recognition brought a profound sense of love and appreciation from his community. Yet, the validation that meant the most didn't come from a medal or a plaque, but instead, it surfaced during a conversation with a fellow Airman and close friend.
“You're doing a damn good job as a husband, a father, a coach and a mentor,” said Staff Sgt. Dorian Gordon, 337th ACS instructor weapons director. "I strive to be like you and have that mindset.”
Thompkins believes his community involvement fundamentally sharpens him as an Airman, keeping him grounded in integrity. Having recently submitted his package to commission as an Air Force officer, he credits his volunteerism with enhancing his adaptability and leadership capabilities.
“It teaches the whole Airman concept,” Thompkins said. “You get people that do their job great, but they aren't involved in the community. Mentoring keeps me honest with myself … you realize that eyes are always on you. There are people out there, besides my kids, that depend on you to do the right thing at all times, even out of uniform.”
Drawing inspiration from a quote he recently read, "The goal is to do and not to be," Thompkins plans to continue his commitment to community service. He hopes his story inspires others to step up and help guide the younger generation.
"I want kids to feel hopeful that there is somebody out there in the world that cares about them as much as they do," Thompkins said. "There are people who want to help, who want to see the better person in them and who don't want anything in return."