Great mentorship -- Great leaders

  • Published
  • By Kim Smith
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Great mentorship can create great leaders. There are numerous programs here geared toward enhancing leadership through mentorship, including Lakenheath's Top 3 Shadow Program.

The Top 3 Shadow Mentorship Program attempts to bridge the gaps between age, rank, and job specialty by giving staff sergeants and Airmen the opportunity to experience the life of a senior NCO.

"It can serve as a mentoring and educational avenue, retention tool and even inspire individuals to reach higher or set different goals from what they originally established," said Master Sgt. Heather Ruegg, senior section chief of the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron and committee chairwoman of the Top 3 Shadow Program.

This program was established in January 2009, and is offered to staff sergeants and below. It is designed so that participants shadow a senior NCO on a day that is convenient for both parties. Participants get the chance to experience a day's perspective of a senior NCO from beginning to end, which includes meetings, unit physical training time, meals and rounds.

"One of my career goals is to become a command chief and shadowing Chief Lucas helped me reaffirm why I want to be one," said Staff Sgt. Aaron Smith, 48th FW NCO in charge of resource management for the Base Chapel, after he shadowed Chief Master Sgt. James Lucas, 48th FW command chief. "One of the many responsibilities of a senior NCO is to help with the development of NCOs. I think this program does this by providing NCOs the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a senior NCO."

The success of the program is continuously growing. Eighteen Airmen have already taken advantage of the experience and an additional 12 candidates have signed up. The intended theme of the program is to broaden the horizon of individuals by allowing them to encounter the mission and operations of a completely different work center and inviting them to get a glimpse of what is expected of a senior NCO.

Master Sgt. Paris Daniel, section chief for the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron and co-committee chairmen of the Top 3 Shadow Program, stated that the program is a benefit for senior NCO's as well as Airmen.

"As a senior NCO, sometimes we forget what it was like being an Airmen," said Sergeant Daniel. "This program is a good motivational tool, as most Airmen leave the program with a strong desire to become a senior NCO."