JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash.—The U.S. Army is an organization that thrives on mentorship and shaping the next generation of leaders. From non-commissioned officers to the officer corps, the goal is to mentor and lead what most consider the nation’s finest men and women. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Rainier ROCKS Inc., is the newest chapter of a larger Army-wide organization spanning back to 1974. Washington, D.C., ROCKS, Inc., is the largest professional officers’ organization extending across all military branches with worldwide membership.

“The ROCKS Inc. began as an idea,” said Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commanding general of America’s First Corps and JBLM. “It was a group of people who came together that all looked alike – a group of African American students in U.S. Army Command and General Staff College – who thought, ‘No one’s mentoring us, let’s mentor one another.’ They came together for good reason: that they might be able to ask the unaskable questions of their peers.”

Just two years ago, in September 2021, the JBLM Rainier ROCKS, Inc. was approved to become an official chapter of ROCKS, Inc. Now, with more than 30 members, the organization has expanded to become an organization for anyone who wants to join and contribute to the overall success of the officer corps at JBLM.

With the expansion and recognition as a non-profit 501c, they were able to give their first scholarship away to Cadet Maicalewis Nacionales during their second annual meeting, Oct. 5.

“This is a celebration for us as a chapter and, more importantly, to recognize and present a scholarship. This is the first scholarship we’ve ever presented,” said Maj. Mikhail Jackson, executive officer to the 7th ID commanding general. “I think [Rainer Rocks] is important because we are mentoring and helping the next future leaders. The only way we can do that is by networking and mentoring each other.”

“[ROCKS Inc.] came with an idea that people can make other people better, and then expanded to become a mentoring organization that takes anybody that’s willing to come and contribute,” said Brunson, who is the senior mentor of the Rainier ROCKS chapter here on JBLM.

For more information or membership opportunities, please visit www.ROCKSInc.org.