Airmen positive mentors to troubled youth Published Dec. 9, 2005 By 1st Lt. Beth Tucker 355th Wing Public Affairs DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- Making a positive impact on a community or another human being is what drives some people to volunteer. Forty Airmen from this base doing that -- making a significant impact in the lives of 55 youth through the Youth Detention Center mentoring program. “This has been an eye-opening experience,” said Senior Master Sgt. J.C. Benavides, the 355th Operations Support Squadron superintendent and program point of contact. “I consider this an opportunity to get involved in the community and to also have the ability to change the course of human life.” The program started in September as a way to get Airmen out into the community and serve as a positive mentor to troubled youth who have not necessarily had a positive influence in their lives. The number of volunteers is expected to increase to more than 100 in 2006 as Airmen who signed up earlier in the year return from deployments. “The mentoring program is not designed to bring these youth a fish, but rather to guide them to learn how to fish so they can feed themselves for a lifetime,” said Sergeant Benavides, who mentors a 14-year-old at the detention center. The program matches volunteers from the base with youth who have expressed interest in having a mentor. Volunteers receive training before working with the youths. “Mentors try their best to meet with their youth once or twice per week,” Sergeant Benavides said. Many of the volunteers have found their experiences very positive, for both the youth and themselves. One mentor, Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Talley, the 355th Wing command chief, knows why the program has been successful for the youths and the mentors. “Personally, I’m the mentor for three youths and we have some great conversations and fun times,” Chief Talley said. “The youths just want to have someone to talk to who really cares and who is there not just because it’s their job.” Others in the program have found this to be true. Master Sgt. Donna Neal, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron plans and programs superintendent, mentors two teen-age girls from the center. “I find this program to be very rewarding,” she said. The girls are in different stages of rehabilitation, Sergeant Neal said. One has left the center, attends school and lives at home. The other is still in detention. After coordinating with the probation officer of the girl living at home, the two can interact in a social atmosphere where both are comfortable. “We go to restaurants -- even shopping -- and mostly we just talk,” Sergeant Neal said. “All she really needs is a good listener, a little bit of guidance and lots of encouragement.” The second youth has been to the detention center before and the two spend time working through the Five Life Skills Workbook that teaches youths how to live a “structured law-abiding living,” Sergeant Neal said. “Being a mentor is easily the most rewarding volunteer work I’ve ever done,” Sergeant Neal said. “In just a few short weeks, you find that you care about these kids so much. It’s hard to believe that just one hour a week can make such a difference. “But sometimes all these kids really need is for someone to show them that they care and to know that they have someone in their corner, pulling for them,” she said. Tech. Sgt. Justin Jordan, the 355th Services Squadron’s NCO in charge of readiness, showed the youth he mentors that he was “in his corner” by showing up to his court hearing. “I attended his court hearing and I saw this scared kid sitting in front of all these adults holding him responsible for his actions,” Sergeant Jordan said. “He did not realize I was in the room at first, until the judge commended him for being in the program. “She (the judge) then acknowledged my presence in the courtroom and my youth sat up and smiled the biggest smile,” he said. “Immediately this child gave a sigh of relief, like he felt it is all going to be OK now.” After the hearing, the judge asked Sergeant Jordan to talk about the program. “We spoke for approximately 30 minutes and she was truly impressed with the change in my youth and requested that I get more people involved because of the positive potential this program has,” Sergeant Jordan said. Sergeant Jordan said the program has touched his life both spiritually and professionally. “I have become a better parent, brother, supervisor and wingman,” he said. Airman 1st Class Jocelyne Mackay, who works in intelligence for 355th Operations Support Squadron, has also found the experience rewarding. Working with a 15-year-old girl, who has lived with foster parents and abuse her entire life, has given Airman Mackay a new perspective on others’ life experiences. “I was a little hesitant,” to pick a youth at first, she said. “I did not know her personality, her past or even if she was going to want me as her mentor. I was also worried about possibly an ethnic/racial barrier, being immediately stereotyped as someone who didn’t grow up like her.” After the first few meetings between, they soon came to see that they had more in common than they thought. Airman Mackay was reassured the girl wanted her to be her mentor. “There were times that she was having hardships and all she wanted was for me to come in for an hour and chat about anything that would make her happy,” Airman Mackay said. Her reward, is “knowing that she knows someone out there sincerely cares about her.” “I don’t know who gets more out of it. Me, learning about another culture and that I have given someone hope, or her,” Airman Mackay said. Chief Talley said, “This program has been extremely beneficial for our military and their family members. We feel great about helping these youths make the transition from the detention facility back into the community.”