thedrifter
06-01-09, 07:28 AM
Al Asad warrant officers make time for networking and mentorship
5/31/2009 By Cpl. Jo Jones , Multi National Force - West
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
One night each month, warrant officers and chief warrant officers from a variety of units and occupational specialties gather aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, for conversation and collaboration during a Warrant Officer Professional Association dinner meeting.
“The purpose of this gathering is to meet and connect with [other warrant officers] so everyone knows who is here,” said Chief Warrant Officer Julio D’Trinidad, a motor transport maintenance platoon commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). “It’s a networking opportunity because there are representatives from every unit and every military occupational specialty on base.”
During their May meeting, the Marines first met at the stadium for a group photo in the afternoon. For about an hour, colleagues shook hands and caught up on the latest happenings in their professional and personal lives, and the junior warrant officers had the opportunity to meet with experienced chief warrant officers.
“Having gatherings like this fosters relationships so you can collaborate better,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dan Olsufka, the personnel officer for Multi National Force -West, who is serving his 29th year in the Marine Corps. “You can finally put faces with names, and it’s also great to see faces you haven’t seen in years.”
Afterward, the group walked over to a base dining facility where, about half way through the dinner, junior warrant officers and those absent from April’s meeting introduced themselves and gave a brief description of their jobs. After the introductions were complete, D’Trinidad encouraged the warrant officers to continue spreading the word about the monthly gatherings.
Chief Warrant Officer Sara Kobs, a distribution officer with MNF-W, said this meeting was not only a good way to network, but also a mentorship opportunity.
“This is a great opportunity for the chief warrant officers to mold and teach the young warrant officers as they come up the ranks,” said Kobs. “It allows everyone to get to know one another on both a professional and personal basis.”
Kobs said there are a relatively small number of warrant officers serving aboard Al Asad, and dinners like this draw people from different backgrounds and units together into a tightly knit family.
“We are a unique group because we have been on the enlisted side and the commissioned officer side,” said Kobs. “Whether you are a warrant officer or a chief warrant officer five, we are considered technical experts in our fields, and we understood what it took to become warrant officers, so we share that common bond.”
D’Trinidad said he hopes these monthly gatherings continue for a long time, both in Iraq and in the United States. As these warrant officers continue to meet every month, they further build upon relationships that will last their entire Marine Corps careers.
Ellie
5/31/2009 By Cpl. Jo Jones , Multi National Force - West
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
One night each month, warrant officers and chief warrant officers from a variety of units and occupational specialties gather aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, for conversation and collaboration during a Warrant Officer Professional Association dinner meeting.
“The purpose of this gathering is to meet and connect with [other warrant officers] so everyone knows who is here,” said Chief Warrant Officer Julio D’Trinidad, a motor transport maintenance platoon commander with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). “It’s a networking opportunity because there are representatives from every unit and every military occupational specialty on base.”
During their May meeting, the Marines first met at the stadium for a group photo in the afternoon. For about an hour, colleagues shook hands and caught up on the latest happenings in their professional and personal lives, and the junior warrant officers had the opportunity to meet with experienced chief warrant officers.
“Having gatherings like this fosters relationships so you can collaborate better,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dan Olsufka, the personnel officer for Multi National Force -West, who is serving his 29th year in the Marine Corps. “You can finally put faces with names, and it’s also great to see faces you haven’t seen in years.”
Afterward, the group walked over to a base dining facility where, about half way through the dinner, junior warrant officers and those absent from April’s meeting introduced themselves and gave a brief description of their jobs. After the introductions were complete, D’Trinidad encouraged the warrant officers to continue spreading the word about the monthly gatherings.
Chief Warrant Officer Sara Kobs, a distribution officer with MNF-W, said this meeting was not only a good way to network, but also a mentorship opportunity.
“This is a great opportunity for the chief warrant officers to mold and teach the young warrant officers as they come up the ranks,” said Kobs. “It allows everyone to get to know one another on both a professional and personal basis.”
Kobs said there are a relatively small number of warrant officers serving aboard Al Asad, and dinners like this draw people from different backgrounds and units together into a tightly knit family.
“We are a unique group because we have been on the enlisted side and the commissioned officer side,” said Kobs. “Whether you are a warrant officer or a chief warrant officer five, we are considered technical experts in our fields, and we understood what it took to become warrant officers, so we share that common bond.”
D’Trinidad said he hopes these monthly gatherings continue for a long time, both in Iraq and in the United States. As these warrant officers continue to meet every month, they further build upon relationships that will last their entire Marine Corps careers.
Ellie