Mentor program benefits local school children, Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  More than 30 Moody Airmen have used their lunch-time to participate in the Scott Craven Mentoring Program at Sallas Mahone Elementary School in Valdosta.

The mentoring program, named after a Moody pilot who was killed in a traffic accident, was started to help children cope with the stress of having a deployed parent and involves mentors coming in weekly to eat lunch and spend time with their appointed child.

"This program would not be possible without the selfless participation of the Airmen from Moody," said Bonnie Ard, Scott Craven Mentoring Program coordinator. "The impact the mentors have on the children is significant, from in-class performance, to behavior in-and-out of school. We as teachers definitely notice the difference."

Whether the child and mentor spend lunch-time talking sports, school assignments or their behavior in class, they both come away with a unique experience that enriches their lives, said Senior Airman Devin Miller, 23rd Security Forces Squadron unit scheduler.

"The most rewarding part of mentoring is knowing the child is looking forward to your visit each and every week," added Airman Miller. "It's a great feeling knowing that you made someone's day, as well as seeing them perform better in school."

Although the benefits of mentoring are great, mentors also deal with the responsibilities that come with their position.

"Confidentiality and commitment are two large parts of the mentoring program," said Mrs. Ard. "Whatever a child tells you during your meeting must stay between the two of you unless he gives you consent to tell someone or there's evidence of danger and abuse. Then you must tell the principal or a counselor. Dependability is also a large part of mentorship, because if an Airman doesn't show up to a meeting, it devastates the child and can lead to feelings of abandonment."

"We also like participants to remember that they are not taking the place of a parent, so you do not need to bring in presents, although you can," added Mrs. Ard. "We just want mentors to come in, relax and enjoy themselves while they share time with the student. You may not realize it, but you are making a difference."

The program's namesake, Capt. Scott Craven, 479th Flying Training Group instructor pilot, began mentoring at Sallas Mahone Elementary School in 2005, the same year it began.

Captain Craven was killed during a motor-vehicle accident in the spring of 2006. After his death, the program was renamed in honor of his service to the school. The program is now beginning to branch out to other districts.

"We currently have a grant that other schools can apply for and be awarded under the stipulation that the name of the program remains 'Scott Craven Mentorship Program,'" said Mrs. Ard. "We would like to keep the program at schools around military installations to keep with the original concept of mentoring children whose parents are deployed."