Sailors participated in a mentorship-building program aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Aug. 29.

The program focused on introducing newer Sailors to potential mentors by cycling them through small groups in two-minute rotations.

The program was organized by Chief Legalman Anaestasia Jackson and Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Leron Robinson, lead sponsor of the mentorship program aboard Ike.

Jackson, who participated in a similar program at her last command, saw Ike's first trip out to sea in almost two years as the perfect opportunity to reach out to the crew and give them a chance to interact with various leaders from outside their parent department.

"It was the first time I had seen it done and it was very successful," Jackson said. "I thought I would try the same thing here, and it worked equally well."

The mentors sat in groups of three or four, and the Sailors rotated who they sat with every few minutes. Playing cards were handed out printed with questions to help break the ice.

"Participants are given a deck of cards focused on different categories," Jackson said. "The cards are a prop used to make people comfortable talking to strangers, helping them to identify someone they want to talk to more quickly and allowing them to talk to more people."

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Seaman Angela Zamora said the exercise was a success.

"I just got here two months ago, and I don't have a mentor," Zamora said. "Everything they told me was new information, and I learned a lot from each mentor I talked to. It was a good way to get conversation going. The only thing I would change is having a little bit more time to talk to each mentor."

Navy Counselor 1st Class Diedre McFarlane was also happy with the event.

"Overall, the program was a success," McFarlane said. "Sailors got to see different options, and hopefully they were able to find someone who fit their needs."

McFarlane said even though there was no formal mentorship program when she was a junior Sailor, she has always sought out a mentor at each command.

"It's been something I've maintained," McFarlane said. "I've always had a mentor, someone I can talk to about anything career-wise, and I know they will give me the truth and not sugarcoat it. They will either help me or point me toward someone who can."

The Navy mentorship program focuses on helping Sailors find, or become, role models for success in their naval careers.

"I would encourage everyone to get involved as a mentor or as a protege in the mentorship program," Jackson said. "This enables the crew to be more successful because the more successful we are as individuals, the more successful we are as a team."

Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently conducting sea trials following a 23-month extended docking planned incremental availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.