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Joint base members mentor college students

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The Librar-E and Resource Commons recently created a college student-mentoring program that will begin for the 2014 fall semester at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The Volunteer Academic Mentoring Program is JB MDL's newest community support program which allows military personnel, spouses, DoD civlians, contractors and college students to volunteer their time and subject expertise to mentor college students.

The Librar-E staff created the VAMP program upon receiving an unusually high number of tutoring requests from community members. Without the resources and number of tutors necessary, they decided to make use of the untapped knowledge in our community.

"I was surprised by all the tutors who volunteered at the first opportunity," said Mimi Ryan-Cirillo, Librar-E director. "Our people know more than I expected and I'd like to recycle that knowledge back into our community."

The program can benefit for first-time students, students who may be struggling with courses and anyone who wants to mentor. The subject matter tutored will include most core subjects including math, English and public speaking and will be limited to the tutors' knowledge.

"We already have seven tutors who have signed up for the program in the short time since its inception," said Ryan-Cirillo. "We encourage anyone with college-level knowledge to volunteer. There are no professional prerequisites."

Tutors and students interested in participating in the program should contact the Librar-E. Military members of all branches and components are welcome to join as well as military families.

"VAMP is a great way for our community members to share their talents and experience," said Ryan-Cirillo. "We're so excited to bring this opportunity to our service members and families on base."

The first meet-and-greet for students and mentors is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2014, and already has participants jazzed and ready to go.

"It all sparked after I was helping my kids who are in college," said Lt. Col. Todd Randolph, 87th Force Support Squadron commander and VAMP volunteer. "VAMP is a great opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with the JB MDL community. The value of your expertise is to share it with someone else and there's always time to help."

VAMP will begin orientations and training in September and begin tutoring in October. The program is a prime example of the quality of life initiatives the award-winning Librar-E and 87th Air Base Wing bring to the JB MDL community.