REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Gaining relationships, seeing views from other organizations and learning about balancing work with family. These are all benefits from a leadership development program at the Aviation and Missile Command.

Participants in the People Empowering People Mentoring Program's most recent six-month cycle, from Oct. 6, 2010 through March 24, were honored May 12th in an award ceremony. Cycle 11 of the program had 12 pairings of proteges with mentors.

"It's up to you now to take what you've learned and go apply it in your careers," AMCOM deputy commander Ronnie Chronister, himself a mentor, said during the ceremony.

Before delivering remarks and presenting certificates, he asked each protege and mentor to talk about their experiences with the program.

"I learned a lot," protege Jamie Candelaria of AMCOM G-1 (Human Resources) said. "It was a different perspective, a perspective from a higher level leader."

Her mentor was Judith Edmondson of Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity.

"It was just really a fun experience," said Edmondson, a third-time mentor.

Chronister told the proteges they should follow their mentors' example by sharing their knowledge with others. "

I still have mentors," Chronister said. "I still have a couple that I call and talk about things. It's constructive feedback."

The proteges included Candelaria, Birvid Atkins-Warner, Josh Cavanaugh, Cynthia Hawkins, Tammy Haynes, Patrick McAbee, LaDonna McCann, Dwayne McMichael, Joyce Oliver, Leslie Trippe, Cornelia Watson and Gary Whitley Jr.

The mentors included Chronister, Edmondson, Karen Bandera, Rick Irvin, James Johnson, Lorraine Lacy, Lori Reynolds, Martin Roggio, Lisa Stangle, LiPi Su, Veronica Winston and Jeffery Young.

Art Ather, Deborah McLemore-Baugh and Christina Ridgeway served as guest speakers during the cycle. Florence Rice of AMCOM G-1 is the program manager.