Mentoring Women and Minority Officers in the US Military

Mentoring is a popular subject in discussions concerning leadership and professional development. However, like the rest of society, minorities and women in the military are disadvantaged in the socialization process. Its appears they are not provided the proper guidance and hands-on experience, which is necessary to practice leadership and improve their skills in the workplace. The US military has followed the business sector and has begun to address these problems by instituting formal mentoring programs. These programs are based on the premise that a successful mentorship benefits not only the individuals, but the organization as well. While this research found a number of barriers associated with mentoring, conversely it recognized that through proper implementation, mentoring can have a positive effect on individuals and organizations. This paper relied heavily on past studies within the private sector and the Department of Defense (DoD). It supports current DoD initiatives and offers additional alternatives which could be used to increase mentor and protege relationships among women and minorities in the military.

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