Does anyone have any suggestions for creating a female mentorship program at the company level?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:55:20 -0500

I want to start a female mentorship program in my company. I've manage to come up with a few reasonable ideas, but I feel like I need more in order to allow the program to benefit female Soldiers. Does anyone have any experience standing up this type of program, or any useful ideas/recommendations?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 28 at 2020 7:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:02:45 -0500

What would your COC say if you proposed this idea to them?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2020 7:18 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:18:49 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Has this been approved? At my civilian job, during lunch, I would teach woman co-workers with some guys attending, the fundamentals of money management. I would teach about 401K's, IRA's, company matching, saving, living beneath your needs, investing, stock and bond no load, low cost mutual funds, etc. You can ask your female soldiers what they would like to know to advance in their career and civilian life.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 28 at 2020 7:28 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:28:12 -0500

There doesn't need to be a "program". All you need is a senior and a junior that are willing to participate. You could facilitate this by asking for seniors that want to mentor and juniors seeking a mentor. You could set up the meeting at a no host event at the club. Mentors and Mentees paired, then let them figure out how they will sustain it between quarterly no host events at the club.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2020 7:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:46:30 -0500

Maybe this will help. See if your base already has a Sisters in Arms program or female mentorship program. Look into this to get ideas if nothing exists.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/http://www.army.mil/article-amp/215841/mentorship_program_provides_support_to_army_women

Mentorship program provides support to Army women

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Dec 28 at 2020 10:48 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 22:48:17 -0500

You know, have to be honest with you on this one... Have to agree to disagree with every single one of you on your guidance to this young NCO of what I’ve read!
Thirty-years ago, I would have said, “Hell Yeah, GO FOR IT!”
Today, not so much. With as much as I applaud her desire for Leadership, I believe her approach is going in reverse, thus causing more separation among the ranks. She can cover every topic she wants in the same classroom environment, with males attending!
As a female NCO, she should Lead the way! Talk to her COC with regards to a mentorship program - but I wouldn’t predicate it towards just females. By Leading the program as a female, she would be showing other females what she is capable, and that they too are capable!
It’s called the old fashioned, “Lead by Example!”
Good Leaders will always acquire good followers. Just saying, trust me on this one... Ever heard of these few individuals; Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King Junior, Nelson Mandela to name a few... Lead Soldier, Lead! Mentor away with your NCOs - All the best!

P.S. I know the first female MI CSM, first female Navy member to have ejected from a fighter jet, female member of the first joint Annapolis graduating class - so a few female firsts!