REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Dec. 12, 2014) -- A mentoring program to enhance both personal and professional growth has been established at the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.
This center-sponsored program was created to unite a cross section of AMRDEC employees from different directorates including members located in other states. Objectives of The AMRDEC Mentoring Program are to foster the mentee's ability to improve leadership and technical skills, gain knowledge from other directorates and expand small group interaction and communication skills. Participation is on a volunteer basis and members will be eligible for Continuing Learning Points for each session hour, up to 16 hours.
Ideally, mentees will select mentors from a different directorate to gain insight to the mentor's specific area of expertise resulting in a broader range of knowledge. Teams will establish their agendas and meet one or two hours per month in locations that best fit the objectives of the group. Depending on the evolution of the mentor contact, lasting professional contacts may evolve to help and guide mentees in their career development.
The purpose of this venture is to provide employees a tool to advance their professional career while strengthening AMRDEC's workforce, sequentially strengthening the Warfighter.
"If you are thinking about your career direction or generally want to experience having a Mentor, you have nothing to lose by participating in this good program," said James Lackey, AMRDEC Executive Director. "Your career mapping should be about what excites you."
Lackey's direct involvement and interest in the mentoring program is based on his observance of a similar successful effort within the Engineering Directorate.
Darnell Whitney, Strategic Planning and Communications Analyst, shares Lackey's enthusiasm for the development of the program.
"Ultimately AMRDEC employees are responsible for their own career," Whitney said. "This program is a deliberate attempt to provide a tool to our workforce to enhance their personal and professional development. If our people are not equipped, then the product we provide to our external stakeholders, PEOs and PMS could suffer."
AMRDEC officials recognize the importance of mentoring stretches beyond the center's needs. Employees are also offered the opportunity to become a virtual mentor to students through the center's Virtual Mentoring Program. Mentors will work with students from a distance and communicate via Internet, email, and other approved social media platforms as appropriate. AVMP is an extension of the center's Outreach and Diversity strategic objectives.
Participants in the center's program will begin meeting in January 2015 and continue with a six month minimum commitment. Interested AMRDEC employees are encouraged to email the Center Support Division's Strategic Planning Office at strategicplanning@amrdec.army.mil.
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The Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness -- technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment -- to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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