AFMC, Hanscom highlight mentoring in 2018 Published Feb. 8, 2018 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Last month Air Force Materiel Command kicked off a yearlong mentoring awareness campaign with the introduction of a webpage dedicated to the topic. The page includes senior leader and mentee viewpoints, tips on effective mentoring and links to related websites. “Mentoring offers the chance to create a culture of continuous learning, promote personal and professional growth, and the opportunity to help shape the future of the Air Force,” wrote Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, AFMC commander, in a January commander’s log highlighted on the webpage. Along with Pawlikowski, the command’s top enlisted Airman wrote about mentorship. “Mentorship is not about position or rank,” wrote Chief Master Sgt. Jason France, AFMC command chief, in a commentary. “It’s about making us all better by leveraging the talents, experiences, and strengths of our Airmen.” The webpage also provides an email address, AFMC.mentoring@us.af.mil, for members of the command to share their own success stories about how a mentor influenced them. At Hanscom, Chief Master Sgt. Henry Hayes, installation command chief, spoke about mentoring and programs he will implement throughout the year. “Mentors are not able to provide all the answers. Mentors challenge you to be better, and that’s not always comfortable,” he said. “I want Airmen to understand the responsibility they have as a protégé.” As part of the command’s emphasis on mentoring, the chief will host monthly informal sessions in his office called “Chief Chat and Chew.” These sessions are open to all ranks, including civilians, and limited to 10 members of the workforce. He also plans to initiate a program for Airmen interested in shadowing him and other senior noncommissioned officers. “The shadow program will be similar to the CGOC [Company Grade Officer Council] and AFLCMC [Air Force Life Cycle Management Center] senior leader shadow program,” said Hayes. “Mentoring opportunities like these offer subordinate members of the workforce a unique opportunity to engage with senior leaders on a one-on-one basis. This will allow enlisted Airmen an opportunity to participate.” Senior Master Sgt. Jessica McWain, 66th Security Forces Squadron Operations and Training superintendent, as well as the Senior NCO of the Year for the 66th Air Base Group, discussed her thoughts on mentoring junior Airmen. “As the senior ranking member in a supervisory-subordinate relationship, you have an obligation to understand the Air Force expectations of your Airmen,” said McWain. “But also to set your own expectations, learn your Airmen’s expectations of themselves, set goals, break down barriers and leverage your connections for the betterment of your Airmen to reach their potential, personally and professionally.” The 66 SFS senior enlisted Airman, Chief Master Sgt. Scott Pepper, who will retire in May weeks shy of 30 years, came to Hanscom intent on mentoring Airmen. “Since arriving here last year, I really wanted to focus my efforts on mentoring Airmen within the squadron and across the installation,” said Pepper, who is a staunch advocate for involvement in professional organizations. “Mentoring opportunities are all around us, including through the involvement in professional organizations. Whether the Patriot Enlisted Organization or the Chief’s Group or Top Three, involvement fosters personal and professional growth.” Other mentoring opportunities available to military and civilian personnel here are through the CGOC-run program. “The CGOC mentoring program is available to company grade officers and GS-7 and above employees,” said 2nd Lt. Katherine Carr, the CGOC mentorship chair. “The goal is similar to that of AFMC’s: foster personal and professional growth at all levels.” To get involved, Carr said interested employees must first send an email to Hanscom.CGOC@us.af.mil with ‘Senior Leader Shadow Program’ in the subject line. Coordinators will then email those interested a diverse list of potential military and civilian mentors. “The list of senior leader mentors will include a broad range of career fields and backgrounds,” said Carr, who notes mentees need not pick one within their directorate or career field. In addition, all military members and government civilians have access to MyVector, a web-based mentoring network that allows mentees to manage their career development with input and guidance from a mentor. The site offers a real-time mentoring plan, discussion forum, a bullet tracker to document accomplishments and the ability to dialogue with a mentor. There is also a resource page available to assist both parties with mentoring questions and relationships. For those interested in participating in any of the mentoring opportunities through the command chief’s office, contact Staff Sgt. Thorne Tayamen at 781-225-1325 or by email at thorne.tayamen@us.af.mil. For further information on the CGOC program, contact Carr at 781-225-5393 or by email at katherine.carr.2@us.af.mil. Those interested may also send an email to the Hanscom CGOC at Hanscom.CGOC@us.af.mil.