Is RallyPoint turning into a something more for vets and retirees instead of a site for Active Service members?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:12:36 -0500

I think I see more vets and retirees commenting on Rally Point than Active Service members. There's nothing wrong with this, but a lot of the time these individuals are so out of touch with the reality that current Service members face. It makes me think that maybe there needs to be a site for Active SMs to talk about their issues. Thoughts.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 1 at 2015 2:40 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:40:44 -0500

Vets and retirees have more time on their hands than do AD personnel. And you are correct that we older veterans are out of touch with today's military thinking - this site is one of the things that help us keep up with the profession. Sorry if it isn't mutually beneficial.

Personally, I try to steer clear of specific questions on regulations, promotion advice, etc. which are of most interest to ASM - things about which I have no current knowledge.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 2:43 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:43:29 -0500

Why should it be so "Active Duty" oriented? Would you prefer Reservists and National Guard be isolated too?

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 1 at 2015 2:47 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:47:32 -0500

I haven't done a scientific analysis of the discussion in which I participate but I do think that about half are with currently serving SMs. There are also plenty of discussions for that audience. So I think there is relevance here for currently serving SM, retirees, and veterans. I am fortunate to have recently retired but also work as a DA civilian for an ROTC program so I get to stay current on a lot of things. But, I will still share my stories from the great Army of the 1980s.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 1 at 2015 2:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:50:02 -0500

Much of what the retired comment about is pertinent to what the AD should know about the future.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 3:00 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 15:00:36 -0500

Even though many retired personnel or veterans may not know current regulations, there is much to be learned from those individuals. Many stay very up too date with current affairs. Past experience is a valuable tool and Rally Point offers service members of all ranks or branch that opportunity. What a Master Sergeant might seek in information maybe vastly different then a Specialist. I understand where your coming from but I think there is plenty of interaction between service members amongst one another. Have a great day and thanks for the post should get some interesting responses.

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Nov 1 at 2015 3:08 PM

SSgt Paul Esquibel — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 15:08:42 -0500

I think it just depends on the topic that is being discussed because whether your active, reserve, guard, retired or separated some things will never change especially leadership and management values and allot of times the best advice comes from those not currently in anymore as they are able to provide a double side explanation for a question that relates to both the civilian and military sector. Some things obviously are a bit confusing when you mention acroynoms or etc but for the most part it I think it keeps everything balanced between both sides.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 1 at 2015 3:37 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 15:37:22 -0500

Rallypoint is a business. I don't know what the ratio is of ADs vs all others but I doubt there would be enough to keep the lights on. The site is operating as intended.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 4:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 16:09:46 -0500

MSG Private RallyPoint Member I would love to see more posts by Active Service members. Why do you think this isn't happening?

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 1 at 2015 5:29 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 17:29:19 -0500

What was the Point of creating Rally Point if not for ALL MILITARY members both past and present? There is probably a larger number of VET than Active duty because the Active duty folks are busy and don't have nearly as much time to participate....
......also, I think the number of Veterans may far out weigh the number of Active duty members....I don't really know...

Response by Sgt Joe LaBranche made Nov 1 at 2015 5:33 PM

Sgt Joe LaBranche — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 17:33:52 -0500

What better way to work through your issues successfully than talking to veterans who have been through it? As a veteran mentor, I talk to all kinds of veterans and active duty military. There's nothing like experience!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 1 at 2015 5:36 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 17:36:40 -0500

It should be a forum for past and present can interact and pass on knowledge and for the sharing of common experiences

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 5:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 17:39:55 -0500

Vets may have more time due to missions taking away the active folks. But I enjoy conversations with everyone as vets mag shed light on life after the military the VA and other things we yet to experience.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 1 at 2015 7:05 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 19:05:16 -0500

Nice topic Top. Actually, a number of my comments to ADs relates to their lack of understanding reality, especially when considering their transition game. There's so much urban myth, BS, and whining out there, it's no surprise why many produce crap resumes for USAJOBS. On top of that, many times there's a refusal to learn the process because being a Vet means they should be anointed with a good job from the get go from an entitlement perspective. Spoiler alert: virtually all civil servants that teach transition are not the decision makers who make hiring decisions nor have experience in doing so. That should tell you who you should get some after hours office time with. The good ones are happy to bring good people along.

I don't have any input into the current AD dynamic so don't go there much except when I can share some of the dynamic on say Top Geocom getting "retired", promotion boards, or how things spin internationally over events like the Ehime Maru which I had some involvement. I encourage the ADs to get some history under their belts "lest they're doomed to repeat it". Vets and retirees certainly have stuff that can be value added. I would agree there's a lot of nonsensical click-bait topics out there.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Nov 1 at 2015 7:10 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 19:10:51 -0500

I guess it all depends on how much Rally Point is advertise military wide.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Nov 1 at 2015 8:37 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 20:37:40 -0500

I wonder why someone on active duty would be on a social media site. Since your private opinions are seen by your supervisor and Commander. Also to terrorist . I may be blowing this out of perportion since this was not around when I served. And RP is a great way for Veterans to talk to other Vetrans .

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2015 8:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 20:55:20 -0500

There was a similar thread about a year ago. I agree that it seems to be mostly vets and retired that post the most, but, outside of very specific questions (like current regulations), most involve general topics, like interpersonal relations between leaders and soldiers, navigating the "big army" bureaucracy, how to manage bad soldiers, mitigating "toxic" leaders, etc. While the specifics may have changed over the years, the generalities may have not. Negatively counseling a soldier, based on other threads, seems to have changed dramatically over the decades, beginning with "wall to wall", pausing somewhere in the "strong language and PT to death" area, and its current "document, UCMJ, and separate" stage.
It's hard to discount the institutional memory. Maybe the answers provided aren't the most current but they provide an insight to organizational change.
Also, as in life outside the military, checking sources is a useful trait. In many cases an answer from a recently retired colonel or SGM is worth more than the answer from a specialist with eighteen months of service.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Apr 28 at 2020 12:30 AM

SSG George Holtje — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:30:52 -0400

The currently serving may benefit from the advice of us retirees.