An exhibition of speed mentoring

Published March 20, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Communication, information and opportunity...these are more than words at the Air Reserve Personnel Center. They represent what Chief Master Sgt. David Paullet, Headquarters ARPC command chief, has conveyed since he arrived here in July, 2011.

One way Paullet is trying to help Airmen progress is through speed mentoring, which he demonstrated during an enlisted call held at here March 20, 2012.

Speed mentoring is a timed session between a group of three or four Airmen and one senior enlisted leader where the Airmen get to ask questions of the SEL and vice versa. Most questions center around the development of their careers as growing Airmen.

Paullet provides leadership and guidance as the commander's senior enlisted representative to more than 400 active duty, Guardsmen, civilian employees and Reserve enlisted members. He also cares what happens at ARPC and said he's looking at the bigger, strategic development of the center.

"My thought process is to ensure every junior enlisted member gets to ask questions to multiple senior enlisted leaders for different perspectives," Paullet said.

The 24-year Air Force veteran said he got the idea for speed mentoring during the Human Resource Development Council two years ago and he employed some of those techniques during his last assignment at Robins AFB, Ga.

During his first year at ARPC, Paullet has communicated with Airmen about enlisted force development. He said getting his point across goes back to providing communication, information and opportunity.

"It's important that Airmen have an opportunity to communicate with a chief regarding issues on a regular basis," he said. "And when it comes to organizations like the Joint Enlisted Advisory Council or the TOP 3, who go hand-in-hand, information is power. If you don't know there's an opportunity out there, how can you be successful?"

He acknowledged statistically not everybody can be a chief. However, if Airmen set short-term, medium and long-term goals for themselves, they will have a better opportunity to progress.

"My goal for this organization is to develop everybody and mentor them so they can progress to meet their career goals," he said.

Paullet believes speed mentoring has proven to be a good connection with the enlisted Airmen and he said it all ties back to communication, information and opportunities. Furthermore, the people Paullet mentored during the HRDC conference two years ago keep in touch with him today.