'Sisters In Arms' aims to match mentors, mentees at JBSA

By Lori NewmanMarch 12, 2015

Sisters In Arms kick-off event
Maj. Gen. Jimmie Keenan, deputy commanding general (Operations), U.S. Army Medical Command and chief, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, shakes hands with Airman 1st Class Tamara Dawson Feb. 26 at the first "Sisters In Arms" meeting. Keenan talked about how impo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON -- According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person; a mentee is one who is being mentored, a protégé.

"Sisters In Arms," a new program at Brooke Army Medical Center, aims to match young female service members with senior noncommissioned officers to establish mentor/mentee relationships at Joint Base San Antonio.

"It only takes one follower to make a movement and once it gets momentum, once it catches, it will just flame," said BAMC Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha Gavia. "We expect this to catch flame and to bring more people into the fold."

The first meeting, held Feb. 26, served as a kick-off for the new program. Maj. Gen. Jimmie O. Keenan, deputy commanding general (Operations), U.S. Army Medical Command and chief, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, was the guest speaker for the event.

Keenan talked about what it was like being a young, small-town girl from Arkansas entering the Army in the 1980s, some of her mentors throughout her career and the importance of establishing those relationships.

Being able to connect with people is important, the general said.

"We have to reach out and look for those who might be struggling out there, because I think we have some people that struggle," she said.

"We shouldn't pass one person in the hall without walking up to them and saying, 'Hi, how are you doing today?'"

Keenan noted that "having somebody you can develop a relationship with when things are hard, to have somebody who you can go to and ask them those tough questions" is something we all need and "it's not just a Monday through Friday, 12-hour shift thing."

During the packed meeting, Keenan took time to engage with several young service members, asking where they were from and what department they worked in.

"If you look around the room, everybody here has something to contribute," Keenan said. "I ask that you reach out, that you lean in and listen -- that's a key thing, to listen; but also speak up for each other and be there for each other."

Following the meeting, 14 senior NCOs signed up to be mentors and 24 young service members signed up as mentees. As the program grows the hope is to have one mentor for every five mentees.

"Whether you have identified yourself as a mentor or a mentee, understand that the impact you are going to have on this organization, on Joint Base San Antonio, and on each other is indelible," said Gavia.

The group plans to meet monthly and to have some type of guest speaker or activity. Mentors and mentees are also required to meet at least once a month on their own.

The "Sisters In Arms" program is open to young service members, senior NCOs and civilians from all the service branches throughout Joint Base San Antonio.

"Although we are called 'Sisters In Arms,' the program is also open to male service members," explained Master Sgt. Vanessa DeDe.

To participate in this program or for more information, call (210) 916-1029. The next meeting will be held March 24 at 11 a.m. at San Antonio Military Medical Center. The guest speaker will be Col. Elizabeth Decker, 959th Medical Group commander.

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Brooke Army Medical Center