Mentoring experiences among navy midshipmen

Previous research suggests that mentor relationships are facilitative of ca reer success, career satisfaction, and retention in organizations. Yet, lit tle research has been done to explore the prevalence or function of mentor relationships in military populations. In this study, preliminary data were collected regarding the prevalence of mentor relationship experiences amon g 576 third year midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. Only 40% of responde nts had ever experienced a mentor relationship. Most mentors were senior mi litary personnel, and 87% were male. Most relationships were mutually initi ated, and they tended to last for several years. Although both career and p sychosocial mentor functions were present in these relationships, psychosoc ial functions were most notable and most highly correlated with positive ap praisals of mentor relationships. Midshipmen viewed mentoring as extremely important and rated their own mentor relationships as extremely positive. I mplications for further research on mentoring are discussed.