Prospective mediators would undergo formal training, in the form of a department-sponsored course. Image: Gajus/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffService leaders are looking for people to serve as mediators at Air Force and Space Force installations. These mediators would serve as independent overseers of conflicts among airmen, guardians and civil servants. The prevailing thought behind the initiative is to settle disputes satisfactorily before they become serious enough to end up as lawsuits in court. Proponents envision other benefits as well.
“While litigation primarily focuses on the specific instance, it does not address any underlying problems or the relationship as a whole,” said Kimberly A. Mlinaz, director of the Department of the Air Force’s negotiation and dispute resolution program. “When you take a workplace complaint to litigation, both parties lose control of the outcome.”
Prospective mediators would undergo formal training, in the form of a department-sponsored course. They then would work with other mediators on three cases before they could handle any cases alone. Eight hours of annual refresher training are also required. Once courses are completed, mediators take part in a six-month mentorship program – during which they continue to hone their skills.
Don Satterlee, a long-time mediator who once served as operations chief for the Air Force’s B-1 bomber division, said that a case can take anywhere from a few hours to several months to resolve.
“Check your bias, hone your listening skills, and hone your patience,” Satterlee said.
“Conflict management seems like a simple skill. But in practice, it’s challenging to do as well,” Mlinaz said. “It should be as professional and comfortable as it can be, and this training only enhances the skills of our mediators in the field.”
More information about becoming a mediator is available on the Air Force’s Negotiation and Dispute Resolution web site.
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