MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- On a tour, traveling through many branch Naval clinics in the lower east Asia, Chief Petty Officer Denfield A. Thomas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Silva are promoting the new campaign mandated by Adm. Verne Clarke, chief of Naval operations.
On a stop at the Branch Medical Clinic here at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, the duo gave a presentation to all Sailors.
?Our reason for being here is to make sure everyone knows what it means to be a mentor,? said Thomas, special assistant to the commanding officer of excellence in Naval Hospital Yokosuka.
In their presentation, they explained how mentors are expected to guide junior Sailors, as well seniors, in both professional and personal growth, said Silva, career developer.
?I have a schedule to meet with my junior Sailors, who I mentor, once a week. With them I share my experiences of when I was a junior Sailor,? said Chief Petty Officer Gilbert M. Ramos, command career counselor at the BMC.
?Instead of having to go through their chain of command for any problems they may have, Sailors can have a second source: their mentor,? added Johnson.
In the United States Navy, all sailors, regardless of rank, rate or age must have a mentor. This new order was mandated March of this year.
Anyone petty officer second class and above can be a mentor. ?PO3?s can?t be mentors because they do not have the experience necessary to be a mentor,? said Silva.
A mentor can help in a number of ways, according to Johnson and Silva. ?As a mentor, we can guide our mentored with anything. It can be through college courses, their work or even promotion boards,? said Silva.
?Since the mentoring program came in affect, there has been a 75 percent increase in promotion,? Johnson said.
This new order can revolutionize the morale and intelligence of the Navy, said Silva.
?Because of this new program, I can retire from the Navy, comfortably, knowing that the future of the Navy is good to go,? said Thomas.
For more information on mentors, contact the career counselor at 253-5734.