OCTOBER 19, 2021 – To help advance diversity efforts across the force, MyVector has recently added several features to the platform.
MyVector is one of the many tools Airmen and Guardians can use to enhance their career development, including tracking personal development and assignments, writing performance evaluations, and connecting with mentors as well as mentoring others.
Last summer, the Secretary of the Air Force stood up the Diversity and Inclusion task force to address the issue of racial, ethnic and other demographic disparities and their impact on the forces.
The task force identified MyVector’s mentorship platform as an area that could help expand diversity efforts. Having more specific filters, such as race, ethnicity and disability, allows Airmen and Guardians to better tailor searches to their specific needs.
“The objective of expanding the mentoring filters in MyVector is to provide a better search experience for Airmen and Guardians to locate potential mentors with similar backgrounds,” explained Dr. Carrie Baker, a member of the SAF Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
“We noticed that the mentor request fields had limited search features and wanted to enhance this valuable resource.”
Lt. Col. Cindy Roberts, one of the leaders within the task force, explained that the new filters also applied to those in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or those who have identified themselves as having a disability, such as hearing loss or invisible wounds.
The disability filter allows approximately 1,000 Airmen and Guardians who have identified themselves with a disability or an invisible wound to connect with other Airmen and Guardian mentors who have an identified disability.
These MyVector additions will advance Department of the Air Force inclusion practices to incorporate as many aspects of mentorship as possible and make it easier for members to find the best mentor for their needs.
“There may be someone out there struggling with a topic, but there’s no one near them to connect with, discuss their problem, or provide advice,” Roberts said.
“These new filters help narrow down the search for a mentor that can best assist someone seeking advice on their unique topic.”
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs