Photo by Capt. Jessica CookSgt. Meriem Ettioutioui (right), 51st Translator and Interpreter Company, talks with Spc. Farida Alvi and Spc. Maryam Mahfeli, also with 51st TICO, about her deployment experience in 2013.
The tough and isolating environment of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin has long enabled dedicated Soldiers and civilians to deliver a demanding training experience to mobilizing units from all over the world.
Soldiers stationed here can be at risk of feeling the effects of that isolation – in particular, female Soldiers. To mitigate the effects of isolation for women, leaders have implemented the Fort Irwin Female to Female Mentorship Program.
“The Fort Irwin Female to Female Mentorship Program was created in order to help generate a culture change here at Fort Irwin focused on establishing a professional environment where junior servicewomen, both enlisted and officers, are able to learn from the experiences and knowledge of more senior female Soldiers,” said Capt. Robyn Boehringer, the NTC and Fort Irwin SHARP Program Manager and a senior female mentor.
Interaction of mentors and junior Soldiers is intended to increase confidence and to overcome future challenges younger Soldiers may encounter here, Boehringer said.
“It would be nice to talk to leadership without worrying about rank or chain of command,” said Spc. Shafaq Yuhanna, a Soldier in 51st TICO. “For example, I had questions about becoming an officer, but I wasn’t sure who to talk to because I didn’t want to skip my chain of command.”
Female Soldiers who want to participate in a mentorship group can sign up during in-processing or see their unit’s female mentorship representative for more information. Unit mentors also meet monthly in order to discuss lessons learned and compare the progress of activities affiliated with their mentorship groups.
While a primary goal of the Female to Female Mentorship program is the professional development of female Soldiers, it does not prohibit male Soldiers from participating. Showing support for the program, leading open-minded discussions, or engaging in mentor-mentee relationships are good ways for any Soldier, male or female to contribute. Mentorship has always been a cornerstone of Army as it transcends gender, age, job, and rank.
“While the Female to Female Mentorship Program was developed to address a particular demographic, I am a firm believer that mentorship is not restricted or limited to a certain program, gender or rank structure,” said Boehringer. “Any time an individual encounters a person of lesser experience and there is a relationship that is built on mutual trust and respect, mentorship can occur.”
For more information about the Female to Female Mentorship program, contact Boehinger at 380-2290.