Mentor Interview #1 - Senior Capstone LHS 2016

Student Name Carmen Macias

Senior Capstone Topic Military
Mentor Name: Alex Orellana
*Email Address: alexsodpe@yahoo.com
*Phone Number:(616)706-7874

Company/Business: Soldier U.S Army

Career Field: (ie. Business, medical, education, marketing, etc.)
Mentor Interview #2 - Senior Capstone LHS 2016
Student Name: Carmen Macias
Senior Capstone Topic: Military
Mentor Name: Staff Sergeant Torres-Johnson
*Email Address: usarmyssgtorres@facebook.com
*Phone Number:(616)442-3653

Company/Business:US Army Recruiting Center, Wyoming, MI

Career Counselor

Career Field: Career CounselorKaplan University

Criminal Justice bachelor's

(ie. Business, medical, education, marketing, etc.)

Questions From Mentor Interview

Education/Preparation:
* How much formal education is needed in your field?
- when enlisting for the Army or any other branch, you must at least have a high school diploma or GED
* What are the important characteristics (personal traits/qualities) for someone entering this field?
- Some of the traits I personally think you should have are dependability, because we're always expected to follow
through all the way with a task regardless of its difficulty. Gotta have initiative to do your job & other tasks above
average. That's what sets you apart & noticed when promotions or recognitions come around. The biggest one is
integrity. Lying in the military vs civilian sector are looked at a lot different. You must know how to take full
responsibility of your actions right or wrong. At least when you're honest the first time the consequences aren't as bad
as if you try to cover up with more lies. Looking out for others. Even if you barely know them or aren't on good terms,
you're both on the same team protecting each other. Motivation. Some days are better than others, some more
stressful than others, so you try to make the best of it. Motivation just helps us move forward. Nobody likes to always
be around someone who just doesn't put effort or is always down.

* What kinds of extra-curricular activities and/or volunteer experiences would be beneficial?

- I guess the main one one would be to prepare yourself physically. You really don't want to join without being able to
have some type physical readiness. It'll be harder on you when you go to basic training and can't complete your
physical tests without difficulty. Can't really put in "volunteer hours" before joining the military.
* What are the most important skills someone should have to find success in this occupation?
- Communication, able to work well with others from different backgrounds, detail oriented, organized, being a good
leader.
Working Conditions:
* What is your job title?
- Nutrition Care Specialist. I provide nutritional information to patients who's doctor has put them on a strict diet
depending on their health condition. Assuring they're still receiving all nutritional needs. Also teach small groups of
soldiers who may have difficulty losing or even gaining weight.
* Would you please describe your organization (its goal, size, structure, etc.)
- I work at an army combat support hospital. Combat support hospitals are made to hold a specific amount of patients
in the field. Some go from 48 to 200+ beds. Our goal is to always maintain patient safety first & be ready to "fight" at
all times.
* What type of training did you receive when you started your first job?
- First you go through 9 weeks of basic combat training, I went to Ft. Sill, OK. For job training I attended 2 different
sites. I did 8 weeks at Ft. Lee, VA & 8 weeks at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. Your advanced individual training (AIT) will
depend on your MOS (military occupational specialty)
* What is the typical career path in this field?
- In my MOS, most people pursue a degree as a diet technician or registered dietician, given that we have the "on the
job" experience employers look for.
* How many hours per week are you expected to work? Do you put in additional hours?
- Like the civilian side we work a typical 8-12 hours a day. Our hours are always subject to change, especially during
field training exercises. And yes, it's the Army, you'll always put in extra hours even if you're told a day before.
* What other things are expected of you outside of working hours?
- The biggest thing outside of work, we're always expected to still keep our military bearing and remain professional. If
you have any online trainings or other things to get done, you have to do them on your own time even if it means you
can't go out with friends that weekend.
* What is a typical day on the job like for you?
- A typical day for me is getting up in the morning, times vary, and doing PT (physical training). Once I'm at the
hospital I go to my office, log in the computer and check how many patients I have for the day. I prepare their
screening form and go to their ward to see them. I usually spend a quick 5-10 minutes with each patient. Sometimes
I'm not able to speak to the patient right away due to surgery they may have just got or they're simply asleep. Once
I've seen them i input they're information in the system. I check in with my NCOIC (non commissioned officer in
charge) to see if there's anything else i need to do outside of the clinic.
* What are the most satisfying and the most frustrating parts of your work?
- The most satisfying part is knowing that I'm taking care of my patients and assuring they're successful with following
through with their doctors orders. Frustrating parts? I don't think there's too many other than not being able to see a
patient because of different things going on in their ward.
* In what ways can this job be stressful?
- Personally, I don't think it's stressful. Just like a civilian job, it depends on your job setting and the people you work
with.
* How much variety does this job involve?
- In the hospital setting, there's not a lot of variety. Now in the field it's different. You're sometimes tasked to do other
jobs on top of your own or you may not do your job at all. Field exercises are the most difficult to juggle.
* What is the pace of work?

- I guess an average, your basic office work pace. Like I said it's a lot different in the hospital than in the field. In the
field, you'll probably work 5x faster than you normally do.
* What times of year are busiest/slowest?
- I don't really think there's a busy or slow period in our hospital. There's always patients.