Mentoring program gains momentum

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Donna Stapleton had seen her share of hardships and this day as she drove away from the base, she cried. Only this time her cry was for joy that a chance she took to speak out on a mentoring program made a difference. 

The Eglin Mentorship Program is into its first quarter and is gaining momentum. 

"I'm really pleased," said Donna Stapleton, chairman for the mentoring program and administrative assistant for the 96th Communications Squadron. "I believe it's going really well." 

The mentoring program was the brainchild of Ms. Stapleton. It began with a conversation Ms. Stapleton had with a senior leader. The conversations became more involved and more frequent and Ms. Stapleton realized this senior leader was indeed mentoring her. While attending an Eglin Partnership Council meeting, a meeting between Eglin leadership and some union representatives, someone asked if anyone had anything to say and Ms. Stapleton spoke up. 

"I stepped out of my comfort zone and just said it...Eglin needs a mentoring program." 

Col. Arnold Bunch, vice commander for the Air Armament Center, liked the idea. He set out to help promote it. 

"Colonel Bunch is the 'big cheese'," said Ms. Stapleton with a grin. 

"I view mentoring as critical for the Air Force," said Colonel Bunch. "We as senior leadership have an obligation to pass along lessons learned to men and women and to prepare those men and women to take our place." "I believe mentoring will do that." 

The mentoring program has indeed started off strong and has grown quickly. Ms. Stapleton and her volunteer committee have matched many mentors and mentees.
Currently the program focuses on civilian employees and has approximately 117 base wide participants, mentors and mentees, from the 96th Air Base Wing, 53rd Wing, Air Armament Center, 308th Armament System Wing, Air Force Research Lab Munitions Division, 919th Special Operations Wing, and the Joint Fire Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT). 

Ms. Stapleton originally wanted to cater to the entry level civil service personnel and those with no degrees. "Because school's just not for everyone," said Ms. Stapleton. But the program is open to all civilians who feel they can benefit from the program. 

"Feedback has been for the most part positive, said Ms. Stapleton, with few people dropping out." 

"But we've also had a couple of mentees receive new positions with promotion. We can't say as of yet it was because of the mentoring program; but it's promising." 

There are still a few issues to work out with the program like getting more mentors in specialized career fields. 

"Most of our participants are mentees and many of our mentors are paired with more than one mentee," said Ms. Stapleton. "So we need mentors. Also, some mentees don't know how to really communicate or ask the right questions to their mentors." 

To remedy some of the mentor/mentee communication issues, the mentoring committee set up base A3 courses. Approximately two to five courses are offered every month. 

"The training focuses on communication skills, leadership and team building to help them be better leaders," said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Clements, program committee volunteer and instructor for the 372nd Training Detachment. 

"Also the A3 courses help deal with relationship between mentor and mentee," said Ms. Stapleton. "The classes help guide both mentors and mentees through the process, so that mentors and mentees are well informed." 

The eight or so volunteers who work on the committee are dedicated, many times staying hours on end after completing their primary duty hours. 

"I had tried my own mentoring program with juvenile offenders," said Sergeant Clements. "While I had to stop administering the program, the program provided me a way to continue the effort. What attracted me mainly to the program is that it was a brand new base-wide program and I had not had many chances to work with civilians." 

During his time administering the program, Sergeant Clements saw two people enlist and none of those he mentored have re-offended since being released from state custody giving him the overall feel of program success.

"Our team is awesome," she Ms. Stapleton. "I love the challenge." "I never thought it [mentoring program] would be as well received.In fact people are enthused and are asking when it will be open to the entire base.It's very exciting!" 

Ms. Stapleton has great hopes for the future of this mentoring program, thinking maybe it will even outlast her tenure at Eglin AFB. But it's her one action, reaching outside her comfort zone and speaking out which has made a significant step toward helping others. 

Who says one person can't make a difference?