Sabers mentoring Sabers Published March 11, 2016 By Master Sgt. Seth Skidmore 178th Wing Public Affairs SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Members of the 178th Wing participated in a speed mentoring session at Springfield Air National Guard Base, March 6. The creation of the session came from the 2014 Wing Climate Assessment. Chief Master Sgt. Brian Wear, the 178th Wing Human Resource Advisor, pushed for the session. "A common theme of the assessment was that mentoring was not available at the unit." Along with the 20/20 Allies team, Wear decided to start a series of mentoring sessions for the base. The first one was decided to be a speed mentoring session. Col. Bryan Davis, the 178th Wing Commander, is excited about the idea. "I am very passionate about building mentors it affects everybody's career." Davis believed that mentoring is part of his job. It is "Building the future leadership of the guard and the Air Force." The mentoring consisted of ten minute sessions for two members to communicate. The Airmen were given scorecards and primers to keep notes. After the ten minutes, one row of Airmen would move spots. That way each member would get the chance to talk to several other members. Senior Master Sgt. Jason Gelhar, 178th Operations Group Weather Superintendent, decided to participate in the event for several reasons: he thought it would be informative to see different perspectives on the base, he wanted to broaden his horizons, and he hoped people would, "Step out of the box." At the completion of the session Gelhar believed that is was a "Worthwhile experience." He learned new information about fellow Airmen. Airman 1st Class Lindsey Davis, 178th Medical Group, is on the other end of the spectrum only participating in here second Unit Training Assembly. "I am a little nervous taking part." Davis was looking for a mentor. At the end of the session she thought that it went real well. Davis felt comfortable talking to the other Airmen and she even found a mentor. The wing plans on holding another speed mentoring session during an upcoming annual training.