U.S. Army civilian employees celebrated the class 2024 graduation from the Fort Buchanan’s mentoring program at the installation’s community center, on Jan 26. The 2024 class had 10 participants.

"The Army mentoring program is designed to provide a structured, standardized, and sustained system to develop the capability and professionalism of our civilian employees," said Col. Charles N. Moulton, Fort Buchanan commander.

According to Moulton, Fort Buchanan's mentoring program connects experienced civilian employees with less experienced employees in certain areas, providing training and sharing knowledge in areas such as communication, critical thinking, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership.

For Carmen Dieppa, the mentorship program coordinator, this initiative showcases how Fort Buchanan creates opportunities for its human capital.

“This is a great opportunity to the workforce. It opens the doors for them to excel. This is a win-win situation both for the employee and the organization. We should continue executing this initiative,”

Jose Martinez Bonano is one of the Army civilian employees on the island who has benefited from the mentorship program this year.

"I have never been in the military, and yet I obtained employment as a civilian at the installation's Children and Youth Service Center as a Children's Program Assistant. Through the mentorship program, I had the opportunity to practice architecture within the Army, which I really studied, something I never thought possible," said Martinez Bonano.

According to Martinez Bonano, the mentoring program expands the horizons of Army civilian employees.

"The Fort Buchanan mentorship program is a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and grow. It allows you to pursue other passions and goals that may not be directly related to your current job. Without a doubt, this platform opens the door to many opportunities," added the employee, a native of the Juana Matos de Cataño neighborhood.

It was Gustavo Villaronga, Architect of the Directorate of Public Works at Fort Buchanan, who served as a mentor to Martinez Bonano.

"As a mentor, my greatest satisfaction is seeing our coworkers' potential in other areas, getting to know them closer, letting them know that there is a future, and helping them continue growing. However, although I am a mentor, I also learn in the dynamic. This is an excellent program that fosters the professional and personal growth of the Fort Buchanan workforce," Villaronga said.

The mentorship progam graduates include Jose Martinez Bonano, Edgardo Marrero, Laura Bauza, Idalis Rios, Sigfredo Perez, Eddie Toro, Samuel K. Turner, Carlos Montañez, Yaviel Luna and Elizabeth Jusino as mentees.

The mentors include Magda E. Figueroa, Rosa Rodriguez, Wilda Diaz, Hector Rivera, Maria Nuñez, Angel Moya, Russell Lorenzo, Ruth E. Gonzalez, Gustavo Villaronga and Anibal Negron.

Fort Buchanan employs over 500 employees.

The installation recently announced that they will be hiring civilian personnel this year and urged citizens on the island to apply through the portal www.usajobs.gov

Since 1776, the Army has employed civilians to work alongside uniformed soldiers, performing critical support functions in more than 500 career fields.

Fort Buchanan is the Army's home in the Caribbean and serves as a platform for readiness and quality of life for military members and their families. The installation serves a diverse military community of approximately 15,000 active-duty Reserve, National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, and members of the Navy Operational Support Center.