The meaning of mentorship: A look at RTX’s employee resource group for the armed services community

When Brandi Carlton became a U.S. Army soldier, she learned right away how hard it can be to work in a male-dominated environment.

As her unit's maintenance manager, she was tracking vehicle maintenance and service schedules, managing a team of mechanics - and feeling unsure about it all.

"It was a struggle to get past the self-doubts on my ability to lead in an area where I was not the expert," said Carlton, now an aftermarket planning and strategy specialist at Collins Aerospace, an RTX business.

A mentor - the battalion executive officer - made all that easier, she said, showing her she could successfully lead in the unit. Six months later, she moved up to a new role, free of the self-doubt that had held her back.

Now, as the professional development lead for RTX VETS, the company's employee resource group for the armed services community, Carlton is driven to help others find meaningful mentorship experiences through leading VAALOR - Veterans and Allies Advancing Leadership, Outreach, and Resilience - the group's new mentorship program.

"It's about connecting our veterans to the rest of the community, and ultimately strengthening the team across RTX," said Carlton of the program, which launched in April 2024 with hundreds of participants companywide. "Within the military, everything is centered around teamwork - that's ingrained in how we operate."

"Being a part of the ERG has really helped me fulfill my desire as a veteran and a military spouse to be part of something bigger than myself."

Brandi Carlton | Professional development lead | RTX VETS

For RTX VETS global chair Charles Moore, showing the value of the company's veterans and military family members is paramount. The VAALOR program was designed to do just that by opening to all employees - not just those in the military community.

The program pairs every participant with two people: a mentor whose job is one level above theirs, and a mentee one level below, for a six-month session. Participants are expected to meet with their mentor and mentee once a month, and come together in group virtual sessions hosted by RTX VETS.

"We are hoping that in all the pairings there will be some growth and understanding of cultures and the differences and the value a veteran brings to our community," said Carlton.

"The military is a cultural melting pot and we are thrown in different situations that are often unexpected," Carlton said of veterans' experience. "We may live far away from family and not have a support system established, so we have learned to operate in an environment where we are forced to build connections with our team, despite our differences. It's that resiliency and being able to overcome adversity."

Moore, a U.S. Army veteran, is also focused on expanding participation in the group's internal database of these employees, which RTX VETS created and launched in 2023. The database lists the skills and experiences employees acquired in the military and allows managers to find and request veterans with that specific knowledge.

"We haven't had a business request come in that we haven't been able to help with," said Moore, an associate director at Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business. "We are able to connect a business leader with a veteran that has experience with the product they are selling. It connects employees discreetly to their background."

The group is also developing an internal guide for launch this year that offers advice on navigating life changes common in military families, such as moving to a new state. It will also include tips on career advancement and arranging flexible work schedules to accommodate childcare needs.

"When you are moving across the country, you have a tremendous amount of unknown," said RTX VETS global co-chair Lindsay Krueger, an associate director of strategy at Collins Aerospace and also a military spouse. "You only have a little bit of time to figure out a whole new life. RTX VETS can help a spouse navigate this huge life change by mapping out how to continue a career, educate managers, and enable everyone to work through that change together."

"For a military family member, knowing the company sees the struggle and sacrifice and is trying to find ways to support you is invaluable."

Another important goal this year is partnering with the company on a campaign directed toward its U.S employee population. The effort will encourage veterans and dependents of active-duty military and veterans in the U.S. to self-identify - part of an effort across the company to better understand several employee populations, as well as improve benefits and services.

"What we learn as a result of the campaign will help U.S. employees with the support they need to thrive," said Nicole McCormick, a senior manager of DE&I benchmarking for RTX. "It's another way we're working to foster an environment where everyone feels seen, valued, respected and protected."

"We are able to connect a business leader with a veteran that has experience with the product they are selling. It connects employees discreetly to their background."

Charles Moore | Global chair | RTX VETS

Carlton remembers finding her first mentor as "that one pivotal moment for me," she said. "It helps you see the value in yourself."

Now, since joining the company in 2022, Carlton also counts joining RTX VETS as another key moment in her career.

"Being a part of the ERG has really helped me fulfill my desire as a veteran and a military spouse to be part of something bigger than myself," she said. "It helps me give back to my community and fill that desire to continue a life of service."