OSAAG holds inaugural sync to enhance officer mentorship

  • Published
  • By Thomas Brading
  • OSI Public Affairs

The Officer Special Agent Advisory Group (OSAAG) held its first in-person sync July 16 – 18, at the Russell-Knox Building in Quantico, Virginia, where they focused on ways to enhance OSI’s Officer Mentorship Program.

OSAAG strives to align senior leaders’ goals with the needs of officers in the field, aiming to improve career satisfaction, quality of life and support for peers at all ranks, said Special Agent Kinlee Rix, OSAAG’s current lead.

“We take a two-way approach [to making changes],” Rix said. “First is implementing small initiatives for immediate effect within OSI, and the second is tackling enduring projects that require longer-term solutions.”

“Our goal isn’t to rush results,” she added. “We gather information from officers in the field, implement or advise as appropriate, and then pass the torch to the next action team to carry on the efforts. Right now, our focus is on the mentorship program.”

During the sync, topics included collaborative sessions, policy discussions and project development activities aimed at mentoring OSI’s Total Force.

According to Rix, meeting in-person was critical to effective syncing and networking among its members. “Our goal is to build a foundation and be a team of teams,” she said.

The event kicked off with welcome remarks by Col. Sean Philips, OSI’s acting deputy commander, followed by team introductions and a policy memo walkthrough led by Rix and Special Agent Yasmin Sarlett, two of OSAAG’s founding members.

The OSAAG in-person sync began with a working lunch that included a panel discussion with members from the Civilian Special Agent Advisory Group, Barrier Analysis Advisory Group, Top 3 Council, Rising 6 Council and the Chief Organizational Culture Officer. On the second day, the focus turned to project development, where teams created proposals aimed at enhancing the mentorship program.

Special Agent Lynette Vogel, OSI Det. 307 at Maguire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, was an attendee who has taken on mentorship roles since her days as a Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet in college.

Even now, Vogel continues to mentor ROTC cadets, helping them understand OSI and its mission.

“To me, mentorship means developing others and spreading knowledge,” she said. “It's about fostering growth and building a stronger community within our organization.

Vogel added that OSI leaders care about their agents' well-being and it's important for others to be aware of the programs designed to support their growth and development, like OSAAG.

“By bringing feedback to senior leaders, we can prioritize changes and address needs identified from in the field,” Rix said. “The organization is still new, but we all have the same mindset. We want to make careers more rewarding, improve quality of life and support our peers at all ranks around the agency.”