Monumental Mentoring Failure - Mine

A few months ago, after some very painful soul searching, I gave up on a mentoring relationship that I had sustained over a ten year period with a junior officer. I mentored my 'mentee' through a period of failure of selection (FOS), transition to a new 'warfare' community, and two promotions. We shared a great deal of pride in overcoming some serious obstacles to promotion and continuing a career. A few months or so ago, my 'mentee' was promoted a second time and didn't bother to invite me to the ceremony (and didn't give it a second thought). Was I hurt? You bet. It still hurts.

This officer and our relationship meant a great deal to me. I didn't realize that this officer was never IN the relationship. Is my bitterness showing? Sadly, yes. But, I'll get over it.

Chief Petty Officer Training

"What excited me about the Center for Cryptology Corry Station's approach to Chief Petty Officer training was an entire chain of command's commitment to a vital part of our organization - to make them (Chief Petty Officers) better, more efficient, and more effective," Master Chief McCalip said.

"All too often, when a Sailor makes Chief, they think they've 'made it,' and, in some ways, they have...but it is so important that we provide strategic mentoring to further their professional and personal development. The fact that we had an admiral-select (Edward H. Deets III) sitting in there the whole week sent a message to the Chiefs and officers that Corry's commitment to being the best flows from the top down."

The course was originally conceived, developed and delivered by (then) Commander Mike Lambert, Director of Training, Naval Technical Training Center Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida. The CO/XO/CMC and wardroom were instructors in this course.