Hello, and welcome back to our series on veterans helping veterans. Last week we took a look at Vets Helping Vets, a group that connects seasoned former servicemembers with newly discharged soldiers. Now, let’s look at how you can be an efficient and helpful mentor outside of an official organization.
If you want to guide your friends and relatives through the process of adapting to civilian life after service, you should prepare yourself before doing so. Becoming a mentor to a loved one can be more involved than simply orchestrating friendly conversations.
First, make yourself very available so your mentee feels comfortable reaching out to you whenever he or she needs help. When having these often difficult conversations, don’t be afraid to be curious – the more questions you ask, the more your loved one will open up. Additionally, know when to share your story and when to refer your mentee to veterans services.
Thanks for watching!