Aviano senior enlisted mentor Airmen, offer advice

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Hines
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Airmen from Team Aviano participated in a "Top 3 Lunch and Learn speed mentorship" course, which gave senior enlisted members a chance to mentor and answer questions from Airmen.

"It's not an opportunity if you don't take advantage of it, so ask the tough questions," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Craver, 31st Fighter Wing command chief, who kicked off the lunchtime course by encouraging Airmen to actively participate in the discussions.

In a bustling crowded room of junior enlisted, NCOs and officers, Airmen were given the opportunity to ask 10 senior enlisted members questions on career, life and personal experiences.

"If you look around the room, nobody looks the same, and that's one of our strengths as a military organization. It is the diversity that we bring to the table, through our different experiences, careers, cultures and backgrounds," Craver said.

During the two-hour event, sequestration, making rank and special duty assignments were at the heart of many topics discussed.

The course was split into seven-minute table sessions, with Airmen rotating from table-to-table, for "speed mentoring."

"It was a very unique opportunity to have that many senior NCOs at the same location answering a wide array of questions," said Staff Sgt. Michael Babcock. "Not very often will you get the chance to be included in this type of environment and I fully enjoyed the experience."

According to Master Sgt. Noe Chavez, 31st Operation Support Squadron first sergeant, the idea for the event came as inspiration from another Air Force Base where the speed mentoring session was met with much success. Members of the Aviano Top 3 Association hope to continue the event and improve upon it for the future.

"Mentorship doesn't have to be solely on career," said Chavez. "It could be on life issues, or it could be a combination of both."

As planners for the event, Chavez and Tech. Sgt. Alexander Benedict, 31st Fighter Wing Inspector General complaints superintendant, aimed to ensure Airmen would be able to meet with various members of the Top 3 Association, who were from different backgrounds and career specialties.

"I think it is important for the Airmen to hear it from different perspectives outside their organization, so our goal was to really diversify the mentors," Chavez said.

"Seeing the people interact with the mentors and everyone who came out to be mentored, I think it went great. I'm excited for the next one," Chavez added.