Where are the Senior leaders willing to mentor our young leadership?

Mentors are sought out by the junior leaders; so if we aren't seeing active mentorship taking place or if, as a senior leader, you aren't mentoring a Soldier, the question should be, why aren't you looked to as someone who to others would want to be and/or follow? Mentorship success requires quality leadership and leadership is seen from within despite any superficial facade that doesn't align with ones inner character. Therefore, it doesn't matter how great you think you are or even how successful you feel you've become, others see the heart and desires that lead you; the character founded at your core on a belief system that encompasses the army values, ethos, and ethics along with your personally driven morals and beliefs. No amount of flair in the use of big words and cheap smiles will ever truly hide your true self. Leadership is about others more than yourself. Take your eyes off of your own greatness and discover what others need and desire to become the best at who they are; then you'll start to develop qualities which enable quality mentorship!

My first counseling statement given to my soldiers after I Finnished PLDC said something like this.

"When you enlisted in my Army you had a vision generated within yourself of what a soldier is. It your responsibility to become that soldier! You can not blame any leader or lack of leader for not uphold that Ideal. If you fail to accomplish that vision (that image of what a soldier is) you have failed yourself. I'm here to help you get there. NOW WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

My soldiers loved it and they responded inkind.

Who is YOUR mentor? Do you have one, have you asked someone to be YOUR mentor?

We are all mentors, and we all act in that capacity. While there are "required/mandatory" professional development/leader development requirements within units, for the immediate mentor, you must reach out to someone you trust, and ask them to be your mentor.....it is more a mutual agreement, you cannot sit back and wait for it (mentorship) to be issued....this entry is for all whom cares to read it, not just to SSG (Join to see), although I am glad he had the guts to bring the subject up.