Mentoring Program Breaks the Code into Army Civilian Leadership

The air thrummed with excitement as the second and third rows of the Wings Auditorium on Naval Air Station Corpus Christi stood in unison before each graduate walked the stage for CCAD's latest Upward Leader Investment for Tomorrow (UPLIFT) commencement ceremony August 14th.

Marking the end of a six month professional development course in leadership, the day also marked the beginning of a new consciousness for the graduates as they apply what they learned as cognizant and engaged Army Civilians invested in making a positive impact in their lives and environments.

The leadership program was designed specifically by CCAD's Workforce Development staff to give depot employees an opportunity to engage with their colleagues and mentors in a structured leadership model exploring concepts and principles from the Army and business industry.

The mentorship component stems from traditional apprenticeships, regarded by many as one of the most effective, immersive and in-depth methods of professional development to-date.

"Students go out and find a mentor, then the mentor and protégé go through a workshop to prepare them for their partnership for the duration of the course," explained Manny Guzman, the UPLIFT Program Manager who helped design the course and continues to ensure its success.

"You can go to a training seminar at any other location and, once you leave, that subject matter expert (SME) is gone," said Jane Scott of traditional classroom environments. She is one of the graduating UPLIFT students and the administrative assistant to the Director of Infrastructure and Risk Management.

She, and every UPLIFT alum will say the same thing: mentorship matters. "In UPLIFT, mentors are always available and, on top of that, there are so many within CCAD." Students find a wealth of value from the mentorship experience.

The value added to their daily work lives can even be tangibly measured. The Workforce Development Division reported that approximately 75% of last year's UPLIFT class excelled professionally, taking on jobs with more responsibility and higher pay after graduating in 2014.

As part of class requirements, all UPLIFT graduates must complete their first course in the Army-wide Civilian Education System (CES), which gives Army Civilian Corps self-development and institutional training opportunities to develop leadership attributes through distance learning and resident training.

There are UPLIFT graduates attending the resident portion of the CES course right now as they strive to become multi-skilled leaders of tomorrow's organic industrial base.

"We are getting a tremendous response from mentors, as well as from the protégés," said Guzman. "Mentors say that they learn from it. Some senior managers are stepping up and requesting to be a mentor for the next class. We're seeing a positive return on that."

Students find similar benefits from the collaboration. The ability to select the right mentor for them gives students an opportunity to learn another area of the depot or shadow a particular mentor whose leadership style resonates with them.

"The feedback and support I received from my mentor and some of the former UPLIFT graduates was invaluable," said Jane Scott.

She shadowed Tammy Tuttle, Division Chief of Special Programs and Logistics, who began her career in 1978 as a GS-2 employee and earned her path up the career ladder to her current position with dedication, skill, professionalism and hard work.

For the students, the intimate wisdom gained through a professional mentorship like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity-- described by one as a sort of Da Vinci Code for Army Civilian leadership.

Jane Scott is convinced that her future is changed forever thanks to the UPLIFT program and her mentors. It has given her the confidence she needed to exert herself professionally.

"UPLIFT taught me skills that allow me to hold people accountable," the administrative assistant said. "I would have not done that six months ago. I would have not felt comfortable bringing things up. I would have not known where to draw the line.

"And I don't take things personally when things don't go right anymore," she added.

"Having this kind of support within our organization is exactly what we need to sustain the Army depot and help it grow," she continues. "Personally, if I did not have the support of my coworkers right here, the ones that have been through this course, I would not be nearly as successful as I am at my job today."

Jane Scott can't wait to give back to the organization by volunteering for the next UPLIFT class. She's already added her name to the list of available mentors.

She, along with the rest of UPLIFT's graduates, understand that they have their work cut out for them, but they're ready for it. Their support system is solid and there when they need them.

By encouraging employees to build the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to lead with confidence and as a team, CCAD's UPLIFT program empowers our Army Civilians to make today's vision tomorrow's reality.