WHAT IS A MENTOR?
A SOS mentor is someone who has experienced the deployment of a loved one. Mentors can be parents, spouses, significant others or other loved ones.
WHAT QUALITIES DO WE LOOK FOR IN A MENTOR?
Experience is the best teacher. We need mentors who have been through a deployment and are willing to share their experience and knowledge with those just going through the process. We are seeking people with positive attitudes who will offer genuine support and advice, a listening ear, or perhaps, lend a virtual shoulder to cry on, or maybe even share a joke or two.
WHAT IS A MENTEE?
The mentee is entering the deployment phase for the first time and would benefit from a supportive, experienced mentor.
Volunteer mentors for the Salute Our Service Program will be integrated with the well-developed volunteer management system of Army Community Service. Every ACS volunteer receives an orientation and training necessary to complete the jobs assigned. The amount of training varies with the complexity of the volunteer position.
Volunteers are also eligible for reimbursement for some incidental expenses resulting from their volunteer work such as childcare, phone calls, mileage, training and travel. Records are kept on each volunteer so that their accomplishments can be transferred to a new organization or placed in a resume for possible employment opportunities. Volunteers are eligible for many types of Army recognition.
HOW ARE THE MATCHES MADE?
SOS provides prospective mentors and mentees an application asking a variety of questions which allows us to make the best matches possible. Such questions include gender, relationship to soldier, communication preference (email, phone, daytime, evening, etc.) and special interests and hobbies.
It is important to be candid when answering questions since matches will be made based upon this information. In all cases, matches will be based on same gender.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
HOW LONG DOES THE RELATIONSHIP LAST
There is no formal time commitment.
The mentoring relationship is expected to last throughout the deployment and a few months into the reunion phase. A mentoring relationship may last much longer than that, perhaps even a lifetime.