Adopt an Airman mentoring program

Airman 1st Class Janay Jones, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering technician, (left) speaks with Tech. Sgt. Shaun Cecil, 28th Contracting Squadron NCO in charge of construction flight during a mentoring program, “Adopt an Airman,” at the Raider Café at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Sept. 17, 2015. More than 20 Airmen from around base gathered for the first session of the new mentoring program designed to connect Airmen with NCOs who are subject matter experts on select programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rebecca Imwalle/Released)

Adopt an Airman mentoring program

Staff Sgt. Lawanda Perthel, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron construction inspector, speaks with Senior Airman Ivan Constante, 28th Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment technician, during the “Adopt an Airman” event at the Raider Café at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Sept. 17, 2015. Adopt an Airman is a two-part mentoring program designed to connect Airmen with NCOs who are subject matter experts on select programs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rebecca Imwalle/Released)

Group 5/6 to host second “Adopt-an-Airman” mentoring session

Published Oct. 19, 2015
By Senior Airman Rebecca Imwalle
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Ellsworth's Group 5/6 will host a second session of the "Adopt-an-Airman" mentoring program Oct. 30. at 10 a.m.

This event is aimed to help Airmen find a mentor outside their work center to ask about career or job progression, and gain inside knowledge of the processes mentors have already experienced.

Staff Sgt. Carla Coronado-Terry, 28th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of the First Term Airman Center, explained all Airmen, E-1 through E-4, are encouraged to participate in this two-part event as a way to increase their knowledge on things they are interested in.

"During the first portion, each mentor will rotate to three different Airmen to have a mini speed-mentoring session," Coronado-Terry explained. "After that, each person will be paired up to one mentor. They will then proceed to have a one-on-one mentoring session during lunch, on whatever topic the Airman wants to discuss."

NCOs will help Airmen with topics such as retraining tips, assignments or making rank, among others.

"Our first session went great," Coronado-Terry said. "There was a lot of positive feedback to continue holding these sessions."

Coronado-Terry added after beginning this program, they realized Airmen are very interested in meeting someone they can go to outside of their supervisors and work centers.

"This also gives the mentors a chance to develop younger Airmen and work on leadership abilities," Coronado-Terry said. "It can also help expand your social circle outside of your immediate work center and provide a different perspective for everyone involved."

For more information or to sign up for the next Adopt-an-Airman session, call Coronado-Terry at (605) 385-6115.