CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea — Military readiness depends on a physically, mentally and spiritually fit fighting force. The same holds true for Department of the Army civilians, which is why U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys has instituted a new professional development program.
One of the goals of the program is to grow future leaders within the Army and Department of Defense, said Jeffrey Mones, director of resource management, USAG-H. The program is intended for the garrison workforce at all levels, including wage grade, appropriated funded, and non-appropriated funded civilians.
The program is divided into cohorts based on equivalent grade with senior champions who lead discussions on a variety of topics, including the military decision-making process, financial management and service culture, added Mones, who also serves as a cohort champion.
Having individuals in parallel stages of their career within the same cohort is beneficial, said Katharine Christy, financial readiness program manager, USAG-H. The design allows peers to share and overcome similar career challenges and develop a network.
“Sometimes it can feel like you’re playing whack-a-mole with all the different training requirements or the different taskers that come down,” said Christy. “The cohort helps us keep on track for both personal and professional development.”
Christy, who is also a co-champion of a cohort, said volunteering to lead in professional development provided her the opportunity to “pay it forward.”
“I’ve seen what other people have poured into me and the impact that’s had on my career, so I want to do the same thing for those coming up behind us,” said Christy. “This program lights our way so we can see where we want to go, the steps we want to take, and find some friends along the way.”
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