SCHRIEVER SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For the first time in more than a decade, the Front Range Company Grade Officers Council and the Rocky Mountain Top III conducted a combined mentoring session between 310th Space Wing’s company grade officers and senior noncommissioned officers, April 2.
During the session, 10 CGOs and 11 senior NCOs met to discuss their experiences, expectations, challenges and potential roadblocks with regard to effective mentorship.
Chief Master Sgt. Michael Baumgartner, the 310th Operations Group senior enlisted leader, said the “Enlisted Force Structure,” often referred to as “the brown book,” states senior NCOs are vital in the development and advising of CGOs to become effective leaders. He said in past years CGOs actively sought out senior NCOs for guidance and mentorship, but noted a decline in those relationships recently.
“This event was the beginning of trying to re-institute that relationship into our culture,” said Baumgartner.
The TOP III and CGOC plan to hold a speed mentoring session next quarter to further develop the relationship between the wing’s senior NCOs and CGOs.
“My hope is that senior NCOs receive more openness from the CGOs for that communication, that cross flow of information and that mentorship. And it goes both ways, because I absolutely believe that there is much we can learn from the lieutenants and captains,” said Baumgartner.
The Front Range CGOC and Rocky Mountain TOP III are private professional development organizations comprised of CGOs and senior NCOs assigned to the 310th Space Wing.