GCSS-Army volunteers complete second year of mentorship program

In June 2019, Global Combat Support System – Army (GCSS-Army) and Prince George County Public Schools completed the second successful year of the Providing Adolescents Leadership Skills and Support (PALS) mentorship program. The PALS program allows GCSS-Army team members to partner with N. B. Clements Junior High School students via weekly meetings to exchange experiences, work through challenges and provide guidance to students during their adolescent years. A huge success in its initial year, the PALS program was expanded in academic year 2018-2019, to include three additional mentor/mentee teams at Prince George High School.

Throughout the academic year, the GCSS-Army mentor team provided volunteers for the N.B. Clements Junior High School Inclusion Revolution Field Day; and chaperoned the winter and spring dances at N.B. Clements Junior High School. Additionally, the GCSS-Army mentors hosted two field trips to the U.S. Army Quartermaster and Women’s Museums at Fort Lee, Virginia for more than 175 students. During the tours, the students learned about the history of the Quartermaster Corps and contributions of women to the Army.

At the end of the school year, the GCSS-Army Product Manager, Lt. Col. Preston Hayward presented certificates of achievement to the 16 junior high school students who participated in the mentoring program this year. The GCSS-Army team plans to continue and expand the partnership in academic year 2019–2020. The mentors find the time spent with students personally rewarding, while the students value their time spent with mentors; evidenced by the number of students who plan to participate next year. PALS is a community outreach program that allows the GCSS-Army team members to give back to the community, while realizing their own personal satisfaction from helping others.