COMDTINST 5357.3 — Mentoring Program

COMDTINST 5357.3 governs the Coast Guard mentoring program, including MPS policy and program requirements for career mentoring.

Search COMDTINST 5357.3

  • Publication number: COMDTINST 5357.3
  • Title: MENTORING PROGRAM
  • Date: 1/28/2026
  • Proponent: FC-LDR

View COMDTINST 5357.3 on armypubs.army.mil

It covers formal, informal, and situational mentoring, mentoring relationships, eligibility, participation, and program responsibilities. It requires authorized MPS users to follow the Acceptable Use Policy and addresses misuse, onboarding, forms, reports, and change requests.

Applies to: This Instruction applies solely to activity conducted through the MPS.

Topics covered

  • Mentoring Program Software
  • MPS eligibility
  • Formal mentoring
  • Informal mentoring
  • Situational mentoring
  • Mentoring relationships
  • Career goal-setting
  • Program misuse

Questions and answers

Is participation in the mentoring program mandatory?

Participation in the program is always voluntary.

Can military and civilian retirees access the MPS?

Retirees (military and civilian) may not access the MPS.

What happens when an employee misuses the MPS?

Any employee found misusing the MPS for its intended use will be removed from the platform.

Is formal career counseling covered by COMDTINST 5357.3?

Formal career counseling, conducted by Commander, PSC and required by subsection (c) of Reference (a), is not within the scope of this Instruction. (paragraph 8)

What does formal mentoring require?

A relationship which has an agreed to beginning and end, a method for no fault termination, a formal matching of the mentor and mentee, and agreed to goals, objectives and/or checkpoints. (paragraph 2)

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