JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --
The 514th Air Mobility Wing Human Resource Development Council introduced mentoring, leadership, team dynamics, and group cohesion to 78 Airmen during an annual mentoring workshop here July 30-31.
The Freedom Wing's Mentoring Workshop goal is to empower Airmen and to help them reach their full potential through personal and professional development. The 2-day workshop fosters a culture of mentoring by encouraging Airmen to be mentors and mentees.
Airmen from the 514th AMW and 108th Air National Guard, here, participated in the 2016 program.
“This year’s theme emphasized the importance of striving to ‘Make it Happen’ while managing multiple responsibilities such as family, military, and civilian careers,” said Capt. Samantha Blue, mentoring workshop coordinator. “In contrast to last year’s theme of ‘Balancing You’ this year’s theme of ‘Make it Happen’ focused on the accomplishment of life goals.”
As with tradition, teams were randomly assigned with ranks evenly distributed amongst 10 teams. Also committee members tried to keep participants from the same unit from siting at the same tables thus encouraging members to meet new people. To boost team spirit, each group selected a theme song to go with their team name. Over the course of two days, the teams accumulated points in various activities leading to a team champion being declared at the conclusion of the workshop.
Master Sgt. Martha Adelaja, 35th APS, noncommissioned officer in charge of Air Terminal Operations Center, provided administrative support to Maj. Leisa Hough and Blue by managing the mentoring workshop inbox, processing registration requests, and responding to inquiries. She said that including different units, squadrons, and organizations were significant in that they increased the pool of knowledge and shared experiences available to participants.
Day 1 consisted of several group activities including the annual speed mentoring session. Brig. Gen. James Scanlan, mobilization assistant to the commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center here, 514th AMW commanders, chiefs and first sergeants addressed the participant's concerns on various issues and offered career advice.
There were also three breakout sessions. Jessica Moss from Primerica Financial Services, taught participants how to manage their finances in session one called How Money Works. Maj. Kelly Charland with 514th AMW performance planning, gave Airmen tips on how to declutter their life in session two, and Juan Serrano and Antonio Silvera at Northwell Health gave tips on career mentoring and interviewing skills in session three titled Northwell Health Veteran Initiatives.
“Since I’ve been looking for a salary position for quite some time now, the resume workshop with Northwell Health was very beneficial for me,” said Senior Airman April Jackson, 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, health services management of outpatient records. “I began implementing new techniques that very night while applying for jobs on my laptop!”
Day 2 featured guest speakers, Chief Master Sgt. Sebrena Flagg Briggs, HRDC council member, speaking on finding your piece to bring peace and “Make it Happen”, and Coach Corey A. Lord, founder & owner of CAL Sports Academy with a workout.
The much anticipated team-building course at the leadership response course on Fort Dix was cancelled due to weather conditions. Instead of testing their brawn outdoors, teams tested their brain in a game similar to the hit show Jeopardy. As the game host, Tech. Sgt. Thamara Jean-Louis ensured the teams complied with the ground rules and that the Jeopardy theme song was cued whenever a team signaled to answer the question.
“As Citizen Airmen, our struggles are not unique to us,” said Adelaja, “Programs like this allow us to see how similar our experiences are and it provides a platform for us to learn from one another. Successful people hardly reach their goals alone.”
The HRDC would like to thank all the guest speakers and every military and civic organization that helped sponsor the event. If you are interested in joining HRDC, contact 514MentoringCommittee@gmail.com