Boot Camp Mentoring

[BMCS Dave Considine]

This was part of a thread I hijacked in the closed door forum. Master Chief Slesh said it should be in the open (I agree, and sorry for hijacking the other thread).

Here's some cut and paste

I said, "Never understood why we are putting Chiefs at the Academy as class advisors and not doing that for Boot Camp companies. I know the "adopt a boot camp company" program exists, but we as Chiefs should be sitting down with them at least for a few hours while they are at Cape May."

BMCS Deane Smith wrote

Dave...if you're talking about the Company Mentor program, you should visit the Cape May website and read up on it. There are several visits by the mentor over the 8 weeks and there are several opportunities to sit down and talk to them. I know that this mentor program is not the same as being assigned to Cape May, but there is still value in it.

On that subject, we should all volunteer for the program. I've provided a link below.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/mentoring.htm

[BMCS Dave Considine]

Here's what I wrote back

Okay, sounds good, so I went and asked all the people here on duty.

The newest member, a Female SA, had a CDR mentor, saw him twice for 40 minutes to an hour, and the ratio was 80-1, no interaction. Her quote was "eighty kids asking dumb questions for an hour."

Some people who had been here for 4-5 months, BM1 mentor - same story.

Another Petty Officer is pretty sure their's was a CAPT.

SO - I am thinking that the program is okay, just need more Chiefs. As I am walking out of the Comm Center the SA says, "Senior, I learned a lot more having lunch with a bunch of Senior and Master Chiefs."

I ask, when did that happen. She thinks it was week 6 and she wasn't sure if this was done with every boot camp company or not.

To me that is what I am talking about - a bunch of Chiefs interacting with the junior enlisted at that pivotal time in their career, not a CAPT visiting for 2 hours over the eight weeks. A YNC or ETC, BMC, MKC - get to know the different rates, ask some questions you wouldn't ask a CDR or CAPT.

Anyone know who these E8 and E9's were?? Is this a common practice at Cape May? I would be glad to go down and have lunch with boot camp companies anytime.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

MCPO Frank Jennings then wrote:

I couldn't tell you who the Chiefs were that chowed with the recruits, of course. But we did have a CMC and RFMC joint conference at Cape May a few months ago and it's fairly common for many of the GBs to eat with the recruits. Great opportunity.

A lost opportunity can be found by looking at who's signing up to mentor the recruit companies. There's plenty of Officers and Petty Officers, but only a fraction of Chiefs. I talked to someone about it a while back (under the personal belief that only Chiefs should mentor recruits). The person I talked to made it clear that he wanted Chiefs, but they weren't signing up which forced him to open the mentor program to anyone.

The first time I mentored a company (O and N 171), I was the XPO on a WLM. I got tired of getting recruits that opted for ATON because "all the good jobs were gone". I told the Coast Guard story- and the ATON mission- to these new shipmates. They heard firsthand the value and importance of that mission, and the thrill of serving at sea in a sea-going service. I still occasionally meet former recruits who were in "my companies".

I've done it twice over the years, and I'll be sponsoring an upcoming company along with my boss. It is a great experience, an opportunity, and a duty, in my opinion.

Frank

[BMCS Mark Stauffer]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that the travel costs are paid for by the District CMC. Can't quite beat that.

The only small problem I would see is clearing enough time in the schedule.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I'd love to see some of the messes within a reasonable distance try and make it down there for a lunch or two. I'd make the drive, plus give me a chance to hit the lucky bag - cheap boots! (The shoe type I mean)

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

I mentored a company when I was in Philadelphia, I was a BMC. It was a blast! When I did it back in 2001/2, travel costs came out of my pocket, gas from Philly to Cape May was not that much and they have guest quarters available to remain overnight. The worst part was driving home on a Saturday night through a snow storm in early January.

Just like Dave's SA said, it seemed to be a bunch of recruits asking the same questions for an hour or so. However, I remember the differences between my week 2 visit, week 5 visit, and my week 8 visit (graduation speech).

I actually had a girl in my company who reported aboard the WILLIAM TATE and ended up working for me for a few months. She asked if she would get dirty on a buoy tender - I think I actually laughed at(with) her. I also ran into a GM3 who was in the same company two years later.

Scott

p.s. If someone else pays for the travel, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

The instructions say to route the package through your District CMC to see if funding is available...so, I guess it's up to the District.

[MKC Brandon Andrews]

I am currently in the Mentor program. I put in the aplication back in August and I wont actually go until Aug 07 to pick up "my" Company so it looks like they have some folks doing it. As far as the travel goes the GB here said that there isn't any funding for it. But I think that this is one of those programs that if you can swing it, do it. If you look at the "Biggest Influence" thread you will see how many folks were molded by their Chief early in their career. If anyone is interested I have the application and can get it to you.
Drew

[MCPO Francis Jennings]

Like Drew describes, the waiting list is over a year long. So whatever funding you ask for is likely FY08 funds, and we're not there yet. I'd sign up for a company now, then seek funding from any available source when needed. :eek: :eek: .

Sea story number 1-

When I sponsored my first company, and made my first visit, I really sold ATON afloat and my unit in particular (I told them exactly how they'd be treated upon reporting to my unit, and that other cutters would be similar). Well, later in the evening, I got what I'll always consider a great compliment when one of the recruits asked if there were any billets on my ship. Unfortunately, there were none at the time. But, before I returned to meet with them for the second time (several weeks later), epm had established a program where any recruit who indicated on his recruitment papers a desire to be a BM would be over-billeted at a unit since the service was very short BM3s.

So, visit number two rolls around, and I have secret intel on a recruit coming to my cutter. About halfway through the evening, I call the unknowing SR forward an have him stand at attention for a while. Then I tell his shipmates about this recent program and that this shipmate was coming to my WLM after graduation. I presented him his ball cap and unit t-shirt in front of his peers. Pretty cool moment.

At my graduation speech, I told all the parents the story, and met the lad's folks. He turned out to be a pretty good Coastie, but I think he bailed after his hitch.

Sea story number 2-

The second visit is timed so you meet with the recruits right after they receive their orders. As I'm near the Cape May ferry, the CC calls me to tell me the visit is a bust since epm didn't get the recruit orders to them. So, as I'm dropping from cell range on the one-hour ferry, I call a contact in CGHQ and ask for some help. As the signal was dying, I passed my request, my gratitude, and my hotel fax number. When I check in an hour or so later, I have a fax copy of orders for 140 or so recruits. :D :D

That evening, the FS2 CC introduces me again, and boo-hoo, we're all sad that no ones knows where they're going. After some dramatic pause, I fire off some line about the power of the CPO and tell them what I have with me. I spent the next hour answering "Senior Chief, can you tell me where this recruit is going?" I had the chance to discuss each unit. And they knew I was very proud of the folks going to sea- especially the three-seven-eights.

It's a great program, and like CCTI and CPO Acad, it can be personally rewarding. I really, really wish that enough Chiefs would step forward so that this would be a Chief's only program.

Frank

[BMCS Dave Considine]

It's a great program, and like CCTI and CPO Acad, it can be personally rewarding. I really, really wish that enough Chiefs would step forward so that this would be a Chief's only program.

Frank


MC - I agree, all the new people at my unit had someone other than a Chief. The female SA that ate lunch with a group of Chief's found that more rewarding. Now the question is how do we get the Chief's to do it?? Sounds like the big issue is the funding.

[BMC Mark C. Lewis]

Brandon
Could you e-mail me a package for Boot Camp Mentoring. I am interested. If you e-mail my home e-mail please put Coast Guard in the subject line because I do not open e-mails from people I do not reconize.

mark.c.lewis@uscg.mil
lewymat@aol.com

[ASTC Ronny German]

I was signed up to mentor the company that is currently at Cape May, actually my first visit was supposed to be yesterday. Due to funding, my command was not able to send me.

I believe in this program and will re-apply again. Next time I will request funding immediatly to prepare my command for it well in advance instead of springing it on them two months out like I did this time.

For units within driving distance, it seems like it would be a whole lot easier for the command to support.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I received a list of the cuurrent mentors, they are all junior officer's and warrants. WE NEED CHIEF'S!!! I will bring up at our Chief's Mess meeting - seems to me like each mess should be able to fund a few Chiefs to roadtrip down there for a company each year - sounds like a boondoggle to boot (no pun intended). I would hope that the Sectors would fund, but the Chief's mess or CPOA should also be able to contribute.

Dave

[ETC Joseph Belson]

When I was stationed in Cape May, my shop and I mentored two boot camp companies. I have to admit it was a blast. I was a 1st class ATT and I had a couple of 2nd and 3rd's participating. We spent a lot longer than an hour each visit. It all depended on the CC and how much time he would give you to talk. The waiting list is long but you can sign up at the Cape May home page on the internet. You have to give a short speech at graduation but it really was enjoyable. I will share one of my sea stories from mentoring:

My Chief had accidentally broke my nose with a bungee cord a couple of days before we met our company for the first time. So, I show up with my ET2 with a great big bandage on my nose and two black eyes. The recruits obviously asked me what happened and I told them (without thinking about it first) that I had mouthed off to the Chief and this is what I got for my troubles. You should of seen the looks on their faces.It took awhile to convince them about the bungee cord as I realized that I just scared the crap out 60 of our newest sailors. My ET2 had to convince them it was an accident after I left the squad bay for a few minutes.

If you get the chance participate in the program and if you get stationed there, volunteer some time from you and your spouse to help with the Married in the Military class for recruits. My wife and I did that for 4 years and had a great time doing it.

Joe

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

I asked my Gold Badge about this last week and he said that there was a long waiting list and he could not afford it out of his budget. Cost about $3K to sponsor a company from the West Coast with all the travel. I did not know that it was mostly JO's doing the sponsoring. That is disappointing. The JO's usually need the mentoring. Recruits could use some enlisted experience to talk to.

[BMCM Bill James]

It's a wonderful experience, I encourage all, especially Chiefs, to do this as often as possible. Don't ask me for money, though...I need all I can get!

There may be no Chiefs now, but that's a blip. Each of the 5 times I've done it, the surrounding companies have also had Chiefs.

MCPO Jim O'Neill, the Cape May CMC, runs a program to show those in the field what Cape May is "up to"...good program for those who have forgotten or who want to blame those 8 weeks for all of the woes of the CG. I highly recommend that program - send him an e-mail if interested.

[BMC Steven Carriere]

Dave:
Sounds like a great opportunity for a few of us to get involved...one of our former shipmates in Boston/PA is now a CC, and I'm hearing great things about him (Hags). I'll email him and see if I can get some info directly.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

How about an entire unit mentoring a Boot Camp Company?

CGC Bainbridge Island is doing just that, they just recently brought the WPB down for one of their visits with their recruits at Cape May.

http://www.uscgnewyork.com/go/doc/802/141865/

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

I have a question about mentoring in recurit training. Is it really mentoring if a CPO, or other, only sees a recurit company a couple times during training?

Mentoring, to me, is a continual and frequent process. People have to be on scene to guide the youngsters through the process. I know guidence is the CC's overall job. In this sense, they are the true mentors for training.

Perhaps the program name is a misnomer but, from what I read here, it is more of a guest speaker program. It cannot be said that people are offering "sage" advise if the some of the people doing it are not yet in the "sage" category.

I am asked at the local university to guest speak particularly on "real world" historical methodology in a general way without advocating one type or the other. I am of the opinion that to hawk one particular branch of the Coast Guard over another may only confuse people who have no understanding of the Coast Guard or its culture.

After a few conversations with CGA cadets, they certainly need the hand of CPO mentor. This will become more important as fewer of them go to sea in the future.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Master Chief,

My Boot Camp Company Mentor was the Gold Badge from the "Old" D11, and then became the Gold Badge at D13. Master Chief Ojeda

Whenever I saw him after boot camp, he remembered me and he would update me on others from my company that I had forgotten about.

I see it as creating a spark between the new Coastie and someone they can look up to. I know that the interaction I had with Master Chief Ojeda then influenced me to be the Coastie I am today.

Actually, I surprised I remembered his name.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

The new Company Chief program at the Academy offers the Cadets a Chief Mentor for their entire time. The program started only two or three years ago. A Chief is assigned to each company. The live on the same floor as the company at the Academy and participate in most of the Cadet activities. I know MKCS Ed Lewis was one of the plankowner Chiefs in the program. He is at the Sergeant Major Academy right now but is checking in here. he can give you a good idea of the program. It had only been around for a short time. I am not sure what the feedback has been from the Chiefs involved or the Cadets, but it must be a win-win.

What ever you want to call the recruit company program, ANY involvement by a Chief during boot camp will be beneficial. Call it the Boot Camp Visitation Program.

The best part is that new recruits will see the Chief as the one to go to for real answers, build that sense of trust up from day one.

[MKC Brandon Andrews]

"The best part is that new recruits will see the Chief as the one to go to for real answers, build that sense of trust up from day one."

Well said Senior. The mentor’s involvement has a lot to do with their personal desire/ability to be involved. If the members is only going to be there for their company on those few limited visits the interaction will obviously be condensed. With operational commitment, travel, recruit curriculum ect. coming into play extra interaction may be hard to come by. But as Senior put it, showing our newest recruits that the Chief is the one to come too and building that sense of trust is at least one very important point that can be delivered in that small time frame. There are numerous ways to continue your involvement long after the recruits graduate, anything from as simple as giving the recruits your email if they have a question later on, to as far as checking in on them from time to time at their first duty station or beyond. As always, just my .02.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Brandon,

I agree. The troops should know that the Chief is available but after they have gone up the line. I realize that the "mentoring" is not intended to usurp the chain of command, but it could leave that impression of the person being able to go around the leading POs or that the POs had nothing to give.

I enlisted in 1963 in the Navy and after that the Coast Guard. It was a period when Chiefs were seen little and the PO2 and PO1s ran things. This is the level where the young folk should be getting their primary "mentoring." It may do well for the Chiefs to be the mentors to their petty officers first so they may take on that role.

I am sure the CPOs of today are bogged down in managerial misasma more than I was and could put their valuable time to use in other ways.

I was fortunate. I had some really good petty officers show me the ropes in the very beginning. I can also see the other side. While during one of my teaching trips aboard a FFG, a few of the crew came to me for advise. I referred them back to their LPOs and CPOs, whom they seemed fearful or embarassed to approach.

The "mentoring" program cannot begin and end with the CPOs. It must be part of larger effort where all are involved. Consistency is the key. If the entire effort is consistent then there will be fewer misunderstandings and problems.

The time when if you spoke with the Chief meant "real trouble" is over. However, there still must be some lower level interaction in the problem and advise giving areana.

[BMC Chris Wright]

I currently have orders for the XPO position at Sta Barnegat Light. I hope that after getting settled in, I can take part in this program. It is something that I have wanted to do for a while now, but, as it was pointed out, the costs to the unit for a member travelling from the West coast kept me from applying.

Chris

[BMC Steven Carriere]

You know..maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea if a billet, or billets, were established at Cape May similar to what the Academy does for the cadets, have a company Chief. I'm just thinking off the top here, and realize there would be a lot more involved than just putting a Chief in with a boot camp company; there would have to be billet restructuring, money, costs, billet justifications, etc. etc. But I do like the idea of having a dedicated CPO assigned WITH a company commander-not in a supervisory or chain of command role, but more as an advisor, leader, someone who could impart experience and knowledge to the recruits without impeding on the authority of the company commander. Great thread!

[BMCS Eric Guerette]

So I finally put my name in the hat for this program.
Here is the reply;
"... I'm going to have to ask you to hold that thought. We are backed up for the next 20 months, and I have to put a cap on the applicants at this time to make this waitlist more manageable. MC Bradley and I are on the same page with getting CPO's onboard to mentor companies, so don't take this as a rejection. I've got your name on my CPO list, but it'll be probably next summer before I can schedule you."
I know that the list has a bunch of O's on it, but is that what a new recruit really needs?
Here is my solution;

There should be a priority ranking for the list.
1. Any CPO
2. Operational PO (any rate, just need Cutter or boat experience)
3. Any PO
4. Mustang O's
5. Operational O's
6. O's
M-type moves you down one level. (Sorry had to add that, but really how many boots get assigned to Prevention?)

Of course if the policy were to change to something like this, then we as a Mess should step up and keep the list full. It would take less than 1% of us a year to give a good showing.

Just my .02,
Eric

[MKC Brandon Andrews]

I had my first visit last week as a Recruit Mentor. First of all it brought back some serious flash backs, and it was quite an experience being on the other side of the fence, especially having dinner at the CC table!! I forgot how young we were when we came in :D. Anyway, as has been said before, if you have the opportunity, take part in this program. I agree with Eric in the fact that there NEEDS to be more Chiefs involved with this and that the senior enlisted should be at the top of the waiting list. 99.9% of the questions from the Recruits were about specific types of units, units in certain geographical areas, what life is like in the “real Coast Guard” for a non-rate ect. These are questions that we as enlisted have intimate knowledge of because we lived it. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a good thing that the waiting list is backed up for the next 2 some odd years. It shows that folks are involved. I just think that there needs to be more consideration as to who gets put on the list and where they land on it!

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I know with CMC Bradley down there now, the issue will be addressed. Hopefully there is a solution that works out. In the end, like Eric said, it will need the full support of the Chief's mess if they allow the senior enlisted to move forward in the list. All I can hear in the back of mind is "Now - the evening meal is being served on the messdeck, Chief's and watch relief to the head of the line!"

[CMC Bruce Bradley]

Well something right up my alley for a change. This exact topic was one of the top issues that I had on my agenda when I agreed to take the job here. Yes, right now the wheel is a bit out of alignment and severely over inflated. The TRACEN Instruction is being updated to reflect where this program needs to go. This is a program that just screams CHIEFS and thats where I am pushing it to. I also believe that having others along the lines of what Eric suggets is great too. But the devil is in the details of how it's managed and I'll keep my fingers in it. The disclaimer is that there are times that direction comes from above for some things, not the program but individual mentors so I roger up and smartly salute and offer to have a hard charging Petty Officer be a co-mentor to help with the questions that come from the visits.

Eric, sorry for the delay in getting you in, but it's gonna take some time to manage the list that we have now as I try to "create some openings".

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

I was registered to do it next May, but then I found I was getting short toured, so with the transfer season right around that time, I gave up my 'spot' to someone else.

I was a mentor when I was on the WILLIAM TATE back in 2002 and loved it. We will see what shakes out for assignment next year and I will sign up again.

Scott

[BMC Matthew James]

I'll be having the first visit with the company I am mentoring the day after Christmas. I looking forward to the experience and feel kinda honored to be visiting a group of young people who were willing to spend the holidays away from hearth and home in order to serve thier country.

I'll let you know how it goes. I've been away from E-2/E-3's for a few years now and I'm interested in learning what is brings young people into the CG now.

BMC MDJ

[ASTC Mario Vittone]

Driving up for my third mentor experience this morning. I've managed to sneak in one a year for the last three and its been a great experience. AN AST2 from the A-School is coming along to take notes (on his own dime and time by the way...very dedicated) to take notes. He's mentoring in December.

Personally, I believe dedicated and professional POs, on their second tour at least but still younger than I, make excellent mentors because the recruits may relate to them more.

/r Mario