Training Support Center (TSC) staff has teamed up with Forrestal Elementary School to offer mentorship to children who live in the community.

The Navy mentor program provides opportunities which allow children to be the best they can be by building special one-on-one relationships between responsible Sailor volunteers and children.

"I think this is an outstanding chance to utilize our great mentorship/teaching skills and hopefully guide these children in a positive manner," said Navy Military Training Instructor Fire Controlman 1st Class Aaron Berkland, mentor program volunteer coordinator. "I believe every school that had the chance to do this with a military branch would benefit greatly. With the amount of support children, teachers and schools give to the military, this is an amazing way to give back."

Currently, Berkland volunteers his time to meet with two children.

"I meet with each child twice a week for at least 30 minutes," Berkland said. "One is in kindergarten and the other is in 2nd grade. The first meeting was a get-to-know-you type of thing. After that, our meetings consisted of goal setting, talking about basic school questions, helping with classwork, reading together, doing art projects, sitting and talking with them at lunch, also joining them for recess."

According to school officials, the hour spent with children each week has made a difference.

"The engagement of Navy mentors for our young students has been making a positive change in many of the students who have been involved," said Ms. Inez Mitchell, principal for Forrestal Elementary School. "The mentors that have been engaged with the program have helped decrease the number of office behavioral referrals from some of our highest need students. These students have thrived on the positive relationship that has been built with the incredible role models that have come to support them."

Sailors involved in the program can make a difference in a child's life by being positive role models helping children to succeed. Staff visits with children during school hours to set goals, reward successes, tutoring and provide time to listen.

"Growing up in a single-parent household I can relate to a lot of the children who have a harder time getting on track with learning, or who have issues which distracts them from class," Berkland said. "Having four children of my own I use my experiences to help the children I mentor. This has definitely made me tap into my inner teacher, which is a life goal of mine."

For more information on volunteering for the mentoring program email GRLK_TSC.greatlakes@navy.mil.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.