DAF to launch National Mentoring Month panels, programs, events

The Department of the Air Force Mentoring Program is launching a series of events throughout January 2025 marking National Mentoring Month. First launched in January 2002, National Mentoring Month is a call to action for all Airmen and Guardians to engage in mentoring relationships, both as mentors and mentees.

NMM introduces the Total Force to a series of panels, events and interactive discussions on mentoring as an enterprise imperative, ensuring greater awareness of the mentoring opportunities available to all Airman and Guardians and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.

The Department of Defense 2025 theme for NMM is “Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders today.” Aligned under this is the DAF NMM theme for 2025, “Transforming lives… strengthening the force… finding common ground through mentoring.”

This year’s theme highlights the crucial role mentorship plays in preparing and strengthening our Total Force for potential challenges in an era of Great Power Competition.

Mentoring is a personal partnership that facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience and wisdom. A mentor is someone who offers guidance, support and advice, helping to shape the career and development of their mentee. A mentee is an individual who seeks growth, learning and is open to receiving guidance to enhance personal and career growth. This reciprocal relationship is fundamental in fostering a productive mentoring environment within the Air Force and Space Force, and provides benefits felt not only on an individual basis but throughout the entire DAF.

Mentoring can take many forms, and for NMM 2025, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Forces Europe are leading the way in organizing “reverse mentoring” events aimed at bridging the generational and experiential divide between “junior mentors” and “senior mentees.” The virtual and in-person forums are highly interactive, with topics selected by junior mentors ranging from the impact of physical fitness on Guardian readiness to gaining an edge in the era of GPC.

Mentoring can be a catalyst in advancing key DAF strategic initiatives, invigorate innovation and foster life-long relationships between mentors and mentees. The relationships formed through mentoring ensures knowledge and experience is shared amongst all generations working within the DAF. It also allows generational groups who may leave the force in the next 10 years the ability to leave their legacy through mentoring future DAF leaders.

"We are extremely excited to launch this year’s National Mentoring Month and have strategically put together a calendar of events in January, open to all of DAF members, to help build the leaders of tomorrow that prepare our workforce with the tools and resources for mentoring to grow people, drive innovation and change and encourage inspirational relationships,” said Director of Force Development Crystal Moore. “We want to encourage everyone to get a mentor and be a mentor in 2025!”

DAF members can find a mentor and become a mentor through MyVector Mentoring, an online platform designed to match members with mentors and facilitate mentoring relationships across the DAF. MyVector Mentoring offers a range of tools to support the mentoring process, including profile creation, and the ability to set goals, track progress and engage in meaningful discussions on personal and professional development. MyVector can be accessed here.

DAF personnel interested in getting involved with NMM events can find more details here, and additional information on DAF mentoring can be found here.