Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Chief Warrant Officers Celebrate National Mentoring Month

January 31, 2022 - Defence Stories

On 21 January 2022, the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command (CFINTCOM) celebrated National Mentoring month by taking a riff on speed dating and hosting a virtual Speed Mentoring session. The two hour MS Teams event saw 18 mentees, ranging in rank from Petty Officer 2^nd Class/Sergeant to Chief Petty Officer 2^nd Class/Master Warrant Officer (PO2/Sgt/CPO2/MWO), paired up with eight of CFINTCOM CWOs. Mentorship in any form transforms lives when people are matched with suitable mentors and who better to mentor our senior non-commissioned officers (Sr. NCOs) than our Chief Warrant Officers; the men and women who are at the very top of our NCO Corps and whose focus is on serving the institution.

Prior to the commencement of Speed Mentoring, both the mentors and mentees spent approximately 15 minutes in the main MS Teams room where all received a brief on the new publication - CAF Ethos – Trusted to Serve - produced by the Canadian Defence Academy. Afterward, each mentor met nine pairings of mentees; this allowed five minutes per mentee to speak with the mentors, who offered their insights and perspectives to questions posed. The most common questions were “how to obtain a work life balance” and “why strive to become a CWO.”  Both are excellent questions, and very understandable given the rank level of the participants and the current workload that is placed on our PO2/Sgt/CPO2/MWO.

The goal of the virtual speed mentoring session was to form new connections with both our mentors and mentees, who come from different backgrounds, occupations etc. CFINTCOM CWOs are creating an environment where our young people feel empowered, encouraged and understood. Speed Mentoring is but one method whereby mentors can make that environment a reality. This informal learning event was so well received that both mentors and mentors voiced that “it was the best time spent at work in a long time.”