Mentoring experiences among navy midshipmen

Previous research suggests that mentor relationships are facilitative of career success, career satisfaction, and retention in organizations. Yet, little 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 among 576 third year midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. Only 40% of respondents had ever experienced a mentor relationship. Most mentors were senior military personnel, and 87% were male. Most relationships were mutually initiated, and they tended to last for several years. Although both career and psychosocial mentor functions were present in these relationships, psychosocial functions were most notable and most highly correlated with positive appraisals of mentor relationships. Midshipmen viewed mentoring as extremely important and rated their own mentor relationships as extremely positive. Implications for further research on mentoring are discussed.