How do you find a mentor?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 14:04:00 -0400

I will admit I have struggled with this for most of my career. Some of this was my fault but I found it very challenging to find a mentor in the National Guard that had the same goals that I had. With that being said I have found my mentors to be people like Ralph Puckett and Sam Walton. This was self-driven through reading and applying their styles of developing their subordinates. They were both pretty successful in their professions.

Selecting a mentor is something that should be taken very seriously. If you have to sell yourself as a mentor then you are doing it wrong. I have seen this with people making an Instagram page. Mentors like that are on par with an infomercial bragging about how they are successful. In reality, they just haven't topped out the peter principle yet.

In my countless conversations with other service members I have been given advice. I will more than willingly accept it but there have been a few times that I have had to turn them away. One of the qualities that I will use to vet a mentor is listed in number 3 of the graphic, is where you want to be. I knew a veteran that has retired a while ago from the Marines as a Gunnery Sergeant in an administrative MOS. I appreciated his advice but as an Infantry Officer in the Army there are challenges that he can't speak on. I know that leaders are leaders but a mentor should be able to assist you in your development. Your Key Developmental assignment is paramount to your success as an officer. If you mentor has never had a similar assignment, they may not be the right mentor.

I am sure that some want to be a mentor but, in all honesty, you have to be able to say that I may not be the right mentor as time. I have worked with a young Transportation officer in the Army. I was more than willing to mentor him but I am not the right person. I really can’t speak to what it is like to run a Trans platoon and he will never be an Infantry Platoon Leader, XO, or Commander. His XO would be the best mentor and that is what happened.

What advice do you have for someone looking for a mentor?

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 29 at 2020 4:00 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:00:29 -0400

Find someone that is a success in your career field that is easy to talk to.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 29 at 2020 6:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 18:56:15 -0400

My mentor became a BCT commander. We just liked talking to each other. We clicked.