MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn -- Junior Airmen and Non-Commissioned Officers at the 134th Air Refueling Wing were given a great opportunity to sit down face-to-face with some of unit’s top leadership during a speed mentoring event that brought together officers, senior enlisted leaders and junior enlisted for a rapid-fire round of conversations focused on leadership, career development and connection.
U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Traci Carico organized the event and created a structured yet informal environment for mentorship, offering Airmen a chance to ask questions, gain insights and expand their professional networks.
“Speed mentoring is a great way to bring experienced Airmen together with some of our younger, less experienced Airmen,” said Carico. “It’s awesome for networking and opening up conversations they might not otherwise have had. Hopefully, it builds relationships that continue beyond this event.”
For Colonel Artis Douglass, the 134th Mission Support Group Commander, the event offered a refreshing return to direct conversations with junior Airmen, something he has found to be increasingly rare as responsibilities grow with rank.
“A lot of times as a young troop, your only one-on-one time with a senior leader is when something’s gone wrong,” said Douglass. “So being able to sit down in a positive setting and hear their perspectives, and share mine, is invaluable. It makes me a better leader.”
Douglass emphasized that building relationships and setting clear goals were two of the most important lessons he hoped to impart during the session. “You have to have a plan. Know the checkpoints you need to hit to reach your goal, and be ready to adjust and refine along the way,” he said. “But also, relationships are critical. If you’re not good at networking, find a way to conquer that. Because someone has to be willing to reach down the ladder and pull you up.”
Senior Airman Brycen Montgomery, a financial management Airman and prior active-duty service member new to the Guard, described the event as a unique and valuable experience.
“Coming from active duty, I had some exposure to leadership, but this was my first opportunity in the Guard to sit with people at the top,” Montgomery said. “They’re in those roles for a reason, and I want to get there too. It was great to ask the same question to several people and get a range of perspectives.”
His primary question for each mentor revolved around how to balance career progression in both his civilian life and Guard duties.
“If you’ve got free time, reach out to your supervisor. Ask what else you can do. Maximize your time when you’re here,” said Montgomery. “Now I’ve got a book of contacts I didn’t have before and people I can turn to when I’ve got questions.”
Sgt. Carico echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of broadening young Airmen’s views beyond their own work centers.
“When we first join, we tend to have tunnel vision,” she said. “This kind of event can open their eyes to how the base operates as a whole. It also introduces them to other units and career fields, which can open new doors as they grow.”
The event also provided learning opportunities for senior leaders.
“I hope they leave with some aha moments,” Carico said. “A better understanding of where our Airmen are coming from, and a reminder that our military careers need to stay in focus even when we return to our civilian lives.”
Though the mentoring sessions were brief, the impact is expected to be long-lasting with many participants already making plans to follow up with mentors and expand on the conversations started.
“It’s easy to forget, but mentorship can happen outside of your career field,” Carico added. “And with most of us being traditional Guardsmen, those conversations can help not just in the Guard, but in our civilian careers too.”
For Col. Douglass, who has served in numerous roles during his career, the mentoring session offered a fitting bookend to his time in uniform.
“Squadron command was the most rewarding part of my career because you had that interface time,” he said. “Today reminded me of that, being able to talk with the folks who will one day lead this Wing. That’s what it’s all about.”