Posted on Jun 7, 2016
What are your thoughts on including initials (MBA, PHD) after a member's name?
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There seems to be a trend towards Rallypoint members including initials after their names. Some of these are fairly straight forward such as the initials MBA, JD, PHD, or so forth that indicate an academic degree is held. Others, however, are fairly vague and sometimes indicate a job title, community position, or certification. So is this an acceptable trend or is merely grandstanding?
Master's Degree
Education
Networking
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 77
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On Rallypoint, it's just grandstanding. For email signatures, it's fine; however people tend to go overboard on the alphabet soup.
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LTC (Join to see)
I don't agree. Folks work hard for their degrees and credentials. As long as it is widely accepted professionally, I would encourage members to include them.
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CPL(P) (Join to see)
Major, I think there are some grandstanding things, but then again I get sneered at for my rank despite having worked my tail off to become highly educated and experienced. I would like that I didn't have to place some letters on, but I think it lets people know the level of filter or lens a thought is processed through.
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Lyle Worden
I'm inclined to think that it might just be introduced for a kind of variety. Like if you want you can use it and however grandstanding it may be everyone decides for himself whether to do so.
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I've never had a problem with it, even before I earned my terminal degree.
I do pick and choose when I use my PhD though. I include my terminal degree on my official signature block at work (for obvious reasons), as well as on professional websites. Since RP is for professional networking (among veterans), I feel that it is appropriate to use it on this website (as well as on LinkedIn). However, I don't use it on non-professional websites like Facebook, my church's website (where I'm on the vestry), my kids' school website (where I'm on the school board), etc. RP is somewhat in a gray zone between a professional networking site and a social networking site, so I can understand why some RP members wouldn't like it.
I do chuckle when people use multiple credentials after their names though. In some cases that might be warranted (like if you have two terminal degrees, such as MD/PhD, or JD/PhD), but normally the highest degree trumps all other lower degrees. I would feel that I was being grandiose by using both PhD and MBA. Sometimes people use their highest degree with one professional certification, and I suppose that's okay too. I did laugh out loud once when I saw someone use 13, yes 13, credentials after their name. He was a PhD and MD, but he added credentials all the way down to an Associates Degree. I mean, really?
The main point is to consider the context and to use discretion. Display only what is appropriate, and when it is appropriate. If you do that, and people still don't like it, then it's their problem.
I do pick and choose when I use my PhD though. I include my terminal degree on my official signature block at work (for obvious reasons), as well as on professional websites. Since RP is for professional networking (among veterans), I feel that it is appropriate to use it on this website (as well as on LinkedIn). However, I don't use it on non-professional websites like Facebook, my church's website (where I'm on the vestry), my kids' school website (where I'm on the school board), etc. RP is somewhat in a gray zone between a professional networking site and a social networking site, so I can understand why some RP members wouldn't like it.
I do chuckle when people use multiple credentials after their names though. In some cases that might be warranted (like if you have two terminal degrees, such as MD/PhD, or JD/PhD), but normally the highest degree trumps all other lower degrees. I would feel that I was being grandiose by using both PhD and MBA. Sometimes people use their highest degree with one professional certification, and I suppose that's okay too. I did laugh out loud once when I saw someone use 13, yes 13, credentials after their name. He was a PhD and MD, but he added credentials all the way down to an Associates Degree. I mean, really?
The main point is to consider the context and to use discretion. Display only what is appropriate, and when it is appropriate. If you do that, and people still don't like it, then it's their problem.
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LTC Kevin B.
SGT (Join to see) - I think it's still in somewhat of a gray area, but it's getting much better now that the election is over (and all of the political commentary has dropped off significantly). Hopefully it can remain that way moving forward. All of the newer questions appear to be focused on military-related topics, have lots of good insight, and are facilitating lots of interaction among the members.
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SCPO Laura Ball Makolandra Corn
I do not see gray, unless it is hazy and underway. I believe it is human nature to want recognition for hard earned accomplishments . Congratulations !
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Don't be jealous/butthurt. WOrk hard and apply yourself. Then you too, can have letters after your name!
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GySgt David Weihausen
GySgt David Weihausen - SFC Jade Redmond I would really, REALLY love to hear your opinion.
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree that working hard for some letters is a reason to be PROUD. But, the "jealousy" runs deep, with those that were not "privileged" with such opportunity. (as I've been told many times).
“Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.”- Ann Landers
“Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.”- Ann Landers
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Lyle Worden
I look at these things differently unfortunately, for me it is the pride of getting something that many people don't have or know is really hard. And a simple education is not even a reason to be jealous because it means that you just spent a lot of time within the system. Besides, there are many examples of simplification of life of a student, when I wrote my papers I often focused on the already prepared. So the idea for my essay on sports I took from the example on https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/sports/ and created my vision of the issue. But no one forbade to take already ready-made without spending time on it.
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