Fairchild Airmen reverse mentor leadership

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jesenia Landaverde
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Col. Scot Heathman, 92nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander, hosted a reverse mentorship session at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, May 4, 2018.

The reverse mentoring program is designed to re-connect senior leaders with junior members in an effort to bridge gaps in workforce diversity, enhance professional relationships and better meet supervisor and subordinate needs.

The session was designed to allow unfiltered feedback from Airmen from the lower tiers to senior enlisted members and high ranking officers.

“This developmental session is a stepping stone to better enhance professional relationships with junior members through greater understanding of their needs, perspective and knowledge,” Heathman said.

Nearly one hundred senior leaders gathered to listen and participate in a discussion with Airmen about their views on leadership, communication between supervisors, and their Airmen, as well as commenting on the values and motivations of younger Airmen.

“Both parties benefited from this experience,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young, 92nd Force Support Squadron information technology technician. “It offered my colleagues and I a rare opportunity to give our opinion and perspective on leadership, mentorship, followership and job satisfaction from our level to our leaders.”