Does anyone know any Senior Enlisted Soldiers in the Minnesota National Guard willing to mentor.

2016-02-16T17:32:19-05:00

((( Revised)))

I am trying to find a mentor that would be able to guide me to the next level.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 5:37 PM

2016-02-16T17:37:24-05:00

I don't think your mentor nesseserally needs to be black

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 5:37 PM

2016-02-16T17:37:40-05:00

You are right; they are rare. I've known a number in the USAR here in Minnesota. Are you looking for mentorship specific to the Guard, or will one of them do?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 16 at 2016 5:41 PM

2016-02-16T17:41:38-05:00

Here is an E-7 on RallyPoint in Minneapolis, MN. You can try to connect with him here. Good luck.
https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/114363-31b-military-police-34th-mp-347th-rsg

SFC Platoon Sergeant at 34th MP, 347th RSG | 31B: Military Police | RallyPoint

View the full military profile of SFC (Join to see), Platoon Sergeant at 34th MP, 347th RSG | St. Paul, MN | RallyPoint professional military profile.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 5:48 PM

2016-02-16T17:48:16-05:00

Your mentor does not need to have a specific skin color, ethnicity or gender in order to help guide and develop you.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 16 at 2016 6:02 PM

2016-02-16T18:02:16-05:00

Go to Alabama, if you throw a Frisbee you will hit one lol.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 6:03 PM

2016-02-16T18:03:14-05:00

Seems everything these days needs to be about race instead of the content of ones character

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 16 at 2016 6:06 PM

2016-02-16T18:06:28-05:00

It's unfortunate that you're willing to bypass potential mentors because of the color of their skin. I get wanting the cultural connection, and there's nothing wrong with that. But to eliminate a lot of people because of their skin color seems shortsighted to me.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 16 at 2016 6:50 PM

2016-02-16T18:50:42-05:00

just wondering -- what about all the potentially great mentors for you who are not of some specific skin color?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2016 7:37 PM

2016-02-16T19:37:43-05:00

I have some understanding of what you are asking and seeking. I believe any good, concerned, educated, genuine E7, E8, or E9 would do. We have advanced and I can honestly say, that In my 24 years in the Army, Army reserves I have met some awesome people that cared about me. Didn't care what color their skin was because they took care of me and helped me, trained me, lead me. Please be opened minded and be able to adjust for continued success in the event you don't get what you are requesting. If you been there for 15 years and haven't seen one yet, chances are you won't.
I was told to be careful of what you ask for. Sometimes its better to make do with what you got. Good luck and God Bless.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 1:08 AM

2016-02-17T01:08:32-05:00

Not a bad thought but I would focus on finding a good NCO who is willing, capable and able to mentor you rather than setting your priorities on finding a minority one. It won't take cultural empathy to advance. It will take hard work and knowledge. Search for a mentor who respects you and will train you.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 1:20 AM

2016-02-17T01:20:28-05:00

Let me add this, I grew up in a city with many minority friends and have known many in the service. Different groups value military service differently. Generally Russians and former soviet block countries value military very poorly. Europeans do as well both viewing the military as the career for hose who can't get other jobs. African Americans make up 20% of the population, much less in the Midwest and north west so even though your statement implies a statistical representation, do the facts support your assertion? I have also noticed lots of minorities in active duty but not so many in the national guard. When I have asked my minooritt friends and they stated that the active army "makes sense" because of benefits and the guard doesn't "financially pan out as well". In other words, that guard service does not pay off as well , and they are right. It isn't a lucrative deal and they are not generally incorrect as noticing that fact. Generally Asians, especially Chinese also avoid the military, many for cultural reasons that have merit. Don't be too quick to judge and interpret a reason for a phenomenon without investigating throughly why. People are complicated and cultures even more so.
Again, keep an unbiased open mind and find a good mentor. Even if he isn't the race that you would prefer.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 7:31 AM

2016-02-17T07:31:01-05:00

Maybe I said this wrong. Maybe I should have just said that I am looking for a mentor. The purpose of this post was to network and find that person. But when you see people get promoted to E6 and get sent to their NCO developmental school before they even get to their new unit but I have waited 3 yrs... There is a problem.

When you hear the training NCO beg another NCO to go to classes you have been asking for but was told there is no funding... There is a problem

When an NCO from a different state comes looking for you, identifies you by name and rank and he is told, "Oh, you're looking for the colored guy"... There is a problem

There are many many good senior leaders out there. I have never been one to play the race card. If I mess up then it was my poor choices not "The man" holding me down. But how can someone who hasn't experienced these things really be expected to empathize and guide me. Even in this post instead of good guidance, I have been met with criticism.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 9:16 AM

2016-02-17T09:16:08-05:00

Why would anyone's skin (race, ethnicity) color have a reflect your job performance or advancement?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-02-17T10:59:27-05:00

That's a touchy can of worms you opened there...lol. I can see how you would want someone of similar ethnicity to look up to but honestly in my opinion it doesn't matter. My greatest influence in the Reserves was a black female 1SG I had when I first transferred over. Coming into the Reserves from AD as an NCO was tough for me due to all the differences between the branches. She really helped me understand my role better and how to adjust my leadership style to better lead the Soldiers there. Don't overlook the assets available to you, you never know which Soldiers will make the difference in your life.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 17 at 2016 11:15 AM

2016-02-17T11:15:34-05:00

Frankly I am disappointed that you feel the need to have some one of your race be your mentor. My mentor was an NCO who was not of my skin color way back in the 1980's. To this day I still think of him, and what he represented in deed and action, not his genetic representation.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2016 8:29 PM

2016-02-18T20:29:30-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member, I see through your comments, and revision of the original post, that you understand the concerns others had with the original post. I have removed my down-vote and replaced it with an up-vote, and I applaud you for acknowledging a mistake and correcting it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2020 11:01 PM

2020-07-16T23:01:14-04:00

SSG Sims, I know many senior NCOs willing to mentor in the MN ARNG. Feel free to contact me for details.