SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Nineteen senior non-commissioned officers and 13 company grade officers exchanged leadership strategies during a speed mentoring session inside Club Eifel at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2016.
For three minutes at a time, officers sat down and conversed with the attending senior enlisted members before they rotated for maximum exposure and contact.
“We’re here to build solid partnerships and solid teams,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Dismute, 52nd Medical Support Squadron medical logistics flight chief and the session host. “It’s important that we communicate with open lines of communication. Be open, be honest, leave no stone unturned.”
The event started at 11:30 a.m. and allowed a social luncheon prior to the session so that CGOs and NCOs could socialize to get to know one another before the start of the speed mentoring.
“Any communication is better than no communication,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph Juscius, 52nd Medical Group public healths officer and event guest speaker. “Truly understanding the senior NCO and CGO relationship, how good it can be and how much it affects the morale and effectiveness of your unit.”
To ensure maximum exposure, the session moved participants around so that they would not exchange ideas with those from the same squadron or section and also encouraged participants to sit next to others they did not know.
“You get to see a broad spectrum,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Arianna Niro, 52nd Communications Squadron plans and resources deputy flight commander and event participant. “It’s always really great to get the perspective of someone who has been in for so long and interacted with Airmen on so many different levels, to see what they can tell us about helping us help them. Senior NCOs have a lot of experience in things I haven’t experienced. Never stop trying to better yourself and it doesn’t have to be in a formal setting like this session – it can be in a casual conversation. Getting perspectives from everyone is always really useful. Conversation can really change your perspective on anything. You get to mix in with people from different career fields and not sit next to people that you know or work with. It’s absolutely such a huge learning experience.”