Guardlife -
Volume 31, No. 4
57th Troop Command CSM: Mentorship
By Command Sgt. Maj. James Marshall, 57th Troop Command
 In the military, mentorship is an
informal, personal and proactive
commitment to foster growth in
soldiers based on mutual trust and
respect.
It is further defined as the “influence,
guidance, or direction exerted
by a mentor”, and is a voluntary, developmental
relationship between an experienced
senior leader who is willing
to provide career counseling and development
to a younger, less experienced
individual. This relationship is
sustained through active listening,
caring and sharing of professional
knowledge and personal life experiences
for the betterment of the individual.
We, as noncommissioned officers,
have a mandate to cultivate our
soldiers. Mentorship is the single
easiest way to develop young leaders
and should not be a hasty endeavor,
due to the commitment necessary to
promote learning and positively influence
the next generation. Experience
is the best teacher and we all
have experience to impart on those
willing to learn. Mentoring is simply giving of your knowledge
to other
people. It is an enduring relationship,
with frequency based on need, not
predetermined events or time.
Mentoring begins with setting the
right example, by showing soldiers a
mature model of values, attributes and
skills in action. It is a one-on-one
approach to helping a subordinate
grow into a superior leader. Mentorship
is more than fulfilling a responsibility
as a leader. It is providing our soldiers
the opportunity to better themselves.
After all, today’s Corporals and Sergeants
will be the First Sergeants and
Sergeants Major of the future. Setting
the example encourages them to develop
their own character and leadership attributes accordingly.
The term “mentoring” is often used
to describe a wide array of actions
that are outside of a mentorship relationship
such as counseling, teaching,
coaching, role modeling, advising and guiding. Seeking advice or
assistance
from a mentor is not a sign of
weakness, but is evidence of a desire
to become a better soldier and leader.
It is a proven approach and a valuable
tool. No specific action is exclusively
“
mentoring.”
A mentor is someone you feel can
be trusted with everything that is important
to you. I must admit that as a
young soldier I was unaware of what a
mentor was. But I would soon learn
that my First Sergeant possessed all
of the qualities of one. He had the
experience, the knowledge and he
cared enough to teach me how to “get
it done the right way”. He always took
the time to share his experiences,
successes and failures alike, and some
of his stories were the most powerful
lessons I learned. Upon becoming a
Specialist, he encouraged me to attend
our unit’s varied social functions,
instilling in me a sense of family and
community among my fellow guardsmen.
When I became an NCO, he shared his vision of how
tasks could
be accomplished and the means by
which to reach those goals.
Over the years, we have developed
a lasting relationship and, to this
day, whenever I need advice I always
know who to turn to - my mentor. I can
honestly say that I would not be where
I am today had it not been for his
direction, counseling and leadership.
Taking the time to reach out to others,
share your life’s wisdom, and convey
your respect for them is possibly one
of the most powerful ways to change
the world, one life at a time.
We should remember that to be
an effective mentor, all you need is
experience, the wisdom of your years,
and one other vital quality – you have
to care!
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