1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,360 mm 2 00:00:05,140 --> 00:00:07,251 Hello , keith , I'm kind of black and 3 00:00:07,251 --> 00:00:09,362 chief esparza for this conversation , 4 00:00:09,362 --> 00:00:11,529 Kessler confronts , we're going to dig 5 00:00:11,529 --> 00:00:13,640 a little bit more into mentorship , A 6 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:12,960 very important subject for us here at 7 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,016 Kessler . Our guest with us today is 8 00:00:15,016 --> 00:00:17,127 Staff Sergeant Leblanc . Yes , thanks 9 00:00:17,127 --> 00:00:19,016 for being here with us today . My 10 00:00:19,016 --> 00:00:18,890 pleasure . Okay , so we're gonna first 11 00:00:18,890 --> 00:00:21,920 kick this off by asking you um what 12 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,142 hardships did you go through as a young 13 00:00:24,142 --> 00:00:26,198 airman , why is mentorship important 14 00:00:26,198 --> 00:00:28,309 for you ? Um so I received an Article 15 00:00:28,309 --> 00:00:30,420 15 at my first base um it set me back 16 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:32,260 early on in my career and the 17 00:00:32,260 --> 00:00:34,940 resiliency through mentors and the 18 00:00:34,940 --> 00:00:36,970 guidance that I received to get my 19 00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:39,360 career back on track , really develop 20 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,416 me into the mentor that I feel I can 21 00:00:41,416 --> 00:00:43,638 become today . So thank you for sharing 22 00:00:43,638 --> 00:00:45,804 that story , because I know that's not 23 00:00:45,804 --> 00:00:45,710 an easy story to share when we talk 24 00:00:45,710 --> 00:00:47,877 about a non judicial punishments maybe 25 00:00:47,877 --> 00:00:50,043 early in our careers , how hard has it 26 00:00:50,043 --> 00:00:53,060 been to stay true to yourself through 27 00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:56,600 that part of your career and uh brings 28 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,544 you to where you are now as a as a 29 00:00:58,544 --> 00:01:00,600 mentor and a leader to the airmen uh 30 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,711 that you lied and you can share those 31 00:01:02,711 --> 00:01:05,180 experiences with them . I believe it it 32 00:01:05,180 --> 00:01:07,291 really hasn't been that hard thinking 33 00:01:07,291 --> 00:01:11,030 back because Home has always been like 34 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,840 my number one set . So remembering who 35 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,007 I am through every step of the process 36 00:01:16,007 --> 00:01:17,673 has meant a lot and then just 37 00:01:17,673 --> 00:01:20,640 developing myself step by step into the 38 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,751 N . C . O . That I am today . Did you 39 00:01:22,751 --> 00:01:24,807 have to seek out mentors or did they 40 00:01:24,807 --> 00:01:26,918 come find you ? That's ironic because 41 00:01:26,918 --> 00:01:28,973 um I believe in right place at right 42 00:01:28,973 --> 00:01:31,330 time . So um every step through my 43 00:01:31,330 --> 00:01:33,552 career I feel like the right person has 44 00:01:33,552 --> 00:01:35,719 been there when I needed that person . 45 00:01:35,719 --> 00:01:37,830 So are you a mentor to anybody or how 46 00:01:37,830 --> 00:01:40,040 many mentors do you have ? Um I would 47 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,270 say I'm a mentor to um certain airmen 48 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,502 and certain young N . C . O . S . In my 49 00:01:45,502 --> 00:01:48,260 unit . Um But I have quite a few 50 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,930 mentors um thinking back on them . A 51 00:01:51,940 --> 00:01:54,090 few of pcs if you have moved on and I 52 00:01:54,090 --> 00:01:56,146 still keep in contact . And that's a 53 00:01:56,146 --> 00:01:57,923 loaded question because my next 54 00:01:57,923 --> 00:01:59,979 question is as we push for diversity 55 00:01:59,979 --> 00:02:01,646 and inclusion here as we push 56 00:02:01,646 --> 00:02:03,701 mentorship . Um Do your mentors look 57 00:02:03,701 --> 00:02:05,923 like you know ? But I feel like that is 58 00:02:05,923 --> 00:02:09,500 also very important because um every 59 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:11,667 mentor or mentee is going to come from 60 00:02:11,667 --> 00:02:13,722 a different background . Um So being 61 00:02:13,722 --> 00:02:16,880 able to mentor someone Um no matter 62 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,490 their race or no matter their sexual 63 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:21,560 orientation or whatnot . Um that's 64 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,850 important . Also I agree 100% . I mean 65 00:02:23,860 --> 00:02:25,860 if we always mentor people who look 66 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:28,027 like this I think that we would fail . 67 00:02:28,027 --> 00:02:30,193 I think we would do . So mentorship is 68 00:02:30,193 --> 00:02:32,249 a is a priority for our wing and for 69 00:02:32,249 --> 00:02:34,304 the installation and we have the new 70 00:02:34,304 --> 00:02:36,138 app that's been launched and the 71 00:02:36,138 --> 00:02:38,304 mentorship within reach . So you're on 72 00:02:38,304 --> 00:02:40,930 it right and give us some feedback on 73 00:02:40,930 --> 00:02:42,986 what you , how you feel and what our 74 00:02:42,986 --> 00:02:45,208 viewers should know about this app . Um 75 00:02:45,208 --> 00:02:47,208 So I feel like the app isn't an end 76 00:02:47,208 --> 00:02:49,486 goal , um The app is never an end goal , 77 00:02:49,486 --> 00:02:51,486 something like that , it's just the 78 00:02:51,486 --> 00:02:53,652 database or um the way I look at it is 79 00:02:53,652 --> 00:02:55,874 a bridge . Um So you can use the app to 80 00:02:55,874 --> 00:02:58,041 reach out to mentees or if you want to 81 00:02:58,041 --> 00:03:00,152 be a mentor , you can take that route 82 00:03:00,152 --> 00:03:02,350 also . Um but it's not an end point , 83 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,304 you have to take the initiative to 84 00:03:04,304 --> 00:03:06,527 reach out and to guide others . I agree 85 00:03:06,527 --> 00:03:08,582 because I'm on the app to um and you 86 00:03:08,582 --> 00:03:10,582 got to dig a little bit right , you 87 00:03:10,582 --> 00:03:12,582 gotta find peers or , or mentors in 88 00:03:12,582 --> 00:03:14,749 there and then hopefully our hope that 89 00:03:14,749 --> 00:03:16,916 that act like you said , it's a bridge 90 00:03:16,916 --> 00:03:19,082 connect there , but then also meet for 91 00:03:19,082 --> 00:03:18,510 coffee or something here and he's there . 92 00:03:19,020 --> 00:03:21,242 Okay . So I guarantee you there's a lot 93 00:03:21,242 --> 00:03:23,409 of young women out there who are still 94 00:03:23,409 --> 00:03:25,242 struggling with this mentor ship 95 00:03:25,242 --> 00:03:27,464 concept , they're probably sitting back 96 00:03:27,464 --> 00:03:29,464 there , sitting back on the app and 97 00:03:29,464 --> 00:03:31,742 waiting for a mentor to come find them , 98 00:03:31,742 --> 00:03:33,964 what advice would you give to them ? Um 99 00:03:33,964 --> 00:03:36,242 don't don't wait , take the initiative . 100 00:03:36,242 --> 00:03:38,131 Um reach out because um , guiding 101 00:03:38,131 --> 00:03:40,242 someone might be someone's light that 102 00:03:40,242 --> 00:03:42,409 might be there . Um why their reason , 103 00:03:42,409 --> 00:03:44,520 that might be the reason for going to 104 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,742 work is to guide others . Um that might 105 00:03:46,742 --> 00:03:49,170 be their reason to have accomplishments 106 00:03:49,170 --> 00:03:51,114 and set goals is too so that other 107 00:03:51,114 --> 00:03:53,448 people can see it and allow them to say , 108 00:03:53,450 --> 00:03:55,420 hey I'm not alone , I have that 109 00:03:55,420 --> 00:03:57,840 connection with my mentor but how do 110 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,020 they start ? Um You just reach out , 111 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:03,540 you just um build that bridge , build 112 00:04:03,540 --> 00:04:05,540 that connection , you just take the 113 00:04:05,540 --> 00:04:07,373 initiative to reach out and find 114 00:04:07,373 --> 00:04:09,540 someone . Yeah , I mean I know I asked 115 00:04:09,540 --> 00:04:11,540 that question twice , but sometimes 116 00:04:11,540 --> 00:04:13,484 it's just even going to your first 117 00:04:13,484 --> 00:04:15,651 sergeant or somebody and saying how do 118 00:04:15,651 --> 00:04:17,873 I find a mentor ? And I guarantee you , 119 00:04:17,873 --> 00:04:17,350 like I said many people will help 120 00:04:17,350 --> 00:04:19,350 connect you with mentors all across 121 00:04:19,350 --> 00:04:21,461 this base . Absolutely . So uh we , I 122 00:04:21,461 --> 00:04:23,570 know our app is uh it's kind of , we 123 00:04:23,570 --> 00:04:25,792 can use this in conjunction with the my 124 00:04:25,792 --> 00:04:27,903 vector that's on Air Force portal and 125 00:04:27,903 --> 00:04:29,959 so it's been really good at a lot of 126 00:04:29,959 --> 00:04:32,070 conversation has been happening about 127 00:04:32,070 --> 00:04:34,292 mentorship and um and how to find those 128 00:04:34,292 --> 00:04:36,459 mentors . So starting Guang , we're so 129 00:04:36,459 --> 00:04:38,459 excited that you're part of uh what 130 00:04:38,459 --> 00:04:40,514 we're doing here with this with this 131 00:04:40,514 --> 00:04:42,570 app , the cooper at that we're using 132 00:04:42,570 --> 00:04:44,626 and you're a mentor or mentee in the 133 00:04:44,626 --> 00:04:46,737 app . I'm actually a mentee . So your 134 00:04:46,737 --> 00:04:48,903 mentee on the app , have you connected 135 00:04:48,903 --> 00:04:50,848 with any of your mentors yet ? Yes 136 00:04:50,848 --> 00:04:52,903 ma'am . So when you get the app asks 137 00:04:52,903 --> 00:04:54,848 you to list your interests or your 138 00:04:54,848 --> 00:04:56,792 hobbies , so when you connect with 139 00:04:56,792 --> 00:04:58,681 mentors or mentees based off your 140 00:04:58,681 --> 00:05:00,737 answers on that , so it connects you 141 00:05:00,737 --> 00:05:02,848 with people that would you would have 142 00:05:02,848 --> 00:05:04,959 that connection with . So it develops 143 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:07,510 it develops you towards your mentors 144 00:05:07,510 --> 00:05:09,677 without you having to reach out and be 145 00:05:09,677 --> 00:05:11,843 like do I have anything in common with 146 00:05:11,843 --> 00:05:14,010 these people ? Because if it didn't do 147 00:05:14,010 --> 00:05:16,232 that you would never know . So where do 148 00:05:16,232 --> 00:05:16,080 you think you'd be today if you didn't 149 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,247 have mentors that you're very earliest 150 00:05:18,247 --> 00:05:20,247 stages in the Air Force , I think I 151 00:05:20,247 --> 00:05:22,660 would have been able to develop myself , 152 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,930 but it would not be nearly as easy . 153 00:05:25,940 --> 00:05:28,130 Not necessarily easy , but it would 154 00:05:28,130 --> 00:05:30,186 have been a gravel road instead of a 155 00:05:30,186 --> 00:05:33,060 paved pathway . Uh I think it's very 156 00:05:33,060 --> 00:05:35,390 important for people to understand , 157 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,920 especially when we look at the judicial 158 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,610 data and we see a lot of our early uh 159 00:05:41,620 --> 00:05:43,676 personnel , whether it's officers or 160 00:05:43,676 --> 00:05:45,620 enlisted , they struggle when they 161 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:45,600 first come in , right ? We're trying to 162 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,656 understand what these Air Force core 163 00:05:47,656 --> 00:05:49,822 values are . We're trying to shed what 164 00:05:49,822 --> 00:05:51,933 we've , what we've learned throughout 165 00:05:51,933 --> 00:05:53,989 our life . And I think those mentors 166 00:05:53,989 --> 00:05:53,810 are extremely important to making sure 167 00:05:53,810 --> 00:05:55,866 that all of our airmen are on a good 168 00:05:55,866 --> 00:05:57,866 path and I love that . Not a gravel 169 00:05:57,866 --> 00:05:59,699 path . That's awesome . Is there 170 00:05:59,699 --> 00:06:01,810 anything else , any other advice that 171 00:06:01,810 --> 00:06:03,921 you have for people looking up to you 172 00:06:03,921 --> 00:06:06,032 right now ? Who , who um would like a 173 00:06:06,032 --> 00:06:08,199 mentor who are struggling right now to 174 00:06:08,199 --> 00:06:10,254 I think I'm able to say um reach out 175 00:06:10,254 --> 00:06:12,254 because if you ever feel alone , um 176 00:06:12,254 --> 00:06:14,421 reaching out , we'll let you know that 177 00:06:14,421 --> 00:06:16,477 you're not alone . Um no matter what 178 00:06:16,477 --> 00:06:18,588 hardship , we all come from different 179 00:06:18,588 --> 00:06:20,699 backgrounds , so we may have had that 180 00:06:20,699 --> 00:06:22,810 same hardship with somebody else that 181 00:06:22,810 --> 00:06:24,977 we never thought we would have . Um so 182 00:06:24,977 --> 00:06:24,600 because they made it through it , 183 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,862 they'll be able to help you get through 184 00:06:26,862 --> 00:06:28,973 it , sergeant blah . Thanks for being 185 00:06:28,973 --> 00:06:31,307 here with us today and I agree with you , 186 00:06:31,307 --> 00:06:33,362 Airman out their officers , enlisted 187 00:06:33,362 --> 00:06:35,418 civilians , contractors . You're not 188 00:06:35,418 --> 00:06:37,584 alone here at Keesler Air Force Base . 189 00:06:37,584 --> 00:06:37,460 Just reach out to one person . And if 190 00:06:37,460 --> 00:06:39,404 that person is reaching out to you 191 00:06:39,404 --> 00:06:41,460 please , as we've always said , slow 192 00:06:41,460 --> 00:06:43,404 down , make time for them . If you 193 00:06:43,404 --> 00:06:45,349 don't have the answer for somebody 194 00:06:45,349 --> 00:06:45,320 who's reaching out to you for help , 195 00:06:45,330 --> 00:06:47,441 connect them with somebody who does . 196 00:06:47,441 --> 00:06:49,552 Thank you for sharing your story with 197 00:06:49,552 --> 00:06:51,608 us today today and and continuing to 198 00:06:51,608 --> 00:06:53,774 push the importance of mentorship . We 199 00:06:53,774 --> 00:06:55,774 are very proud to work with you and 200 00:06:55,774 --> 00:06:57,774 everybody here at Keesler Air Force 201 00:06:57,774 --> 00:07:00,052 Base . So until next week you got this , 202 00:07:00,052 --> 00:06:58,760 we got you , 203 00:07:04,740 --> 00:07:05,060 mm .