Over the past year or so did you impact Rallypoint or did RallyPoint impact you more?

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:44:36 -0500

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of me joining RallyPoint. I asked a few questions and responded to several others as I was learning the ropes on RallyPoint.
Many people helped me along the way [a few of those have since left RallyPoint].
I imagine that my experience is common and that most of us have benefitted from more experienced members.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 1 at 2016 9:46 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:46:54 -0500

LTC Stephen F. RallyPoint pushed me to social networking and to make an impact amongst the Veteran population. 50/50 all the way! Partnership!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 1 at 2016 9:49 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:49:26 -0500

You tell me, Colonel.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 1 at 2016 9:50 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:50:13 -0500

I responded to an invitation from MAJ John S. DeJesus months after he sent it to me. I asked a question or two and responded to several while I was trying to figure out RallyPoint. RallyPoint changed me by helping me to write better and communicate both my faith in Christ and my many other interests. I changed RallyPoint by accident a couple times. the first was when I tagged my entire contact list on a couple questions. That promptly changed RallyPoint to limit the tags of members to 20 per discussion. Later I tagged some groups with humor and more serious topics which I learned was not always appropriate.
[Update 3/2/2016] One area that I stumbled across was the group discussions and associated images. I found that many of the topic groups I was interested in did not have images associated with them. I searched for images which made sense and uploaded them to the groups. Later I added description sot groups and asked members of the group to reviewed the description.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Mar 1 at 2016 9:50 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:50:19 -0500

I am certain I have not impacted Rally Point & RP did get me to think again about both Holistic Management & Integrated Energy Therapy IET..We talked about PTSD & Chronic Depression on RP last summer when I first joined here I think it was Rabbi Matlow & SMSgt Thomas who contributed to these discussions & I mentioned I had some knowledge of a new Therapy for PTSD & Chronic Depression that included Diet, Exercise & Spirituality and/or Meditation. I know a lot about diet, exercise and spirituality and now want to know more about Meditation that some guys here on RP claimed was showing some good results. So I am about to find out soon by attending IET at Braintree MA just a few miles from home. I just believe if you have a problem like Anger, Alcohol, Drugs, Depression, Obesity, or PTSD you have to recognize it and deal with it. If you don't you may lose your job, wife, husband, friends, family and even your own life.

OOOOOooooooooops I forgot ....we have had a few real good service rivalries Re: Marines vs Army & I was right smack in the middle of these dust ups when I first joined last summer.. I like a good fight so I may have got someone's attention.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 10:12 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 22:12:48 -0500

Great question. I think I've done a small bit to show my gratitude for the benefits I've reaped from RP - blog posts, telling everyone about it, starting IT threads to help everyone learn more.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 1 at 2016 11:05 PM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 23:05:05 -0500

Neither?

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Mar 1 at 2016 11:28 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 23:28:57 -0500

I think Rally Point has been a fantastic forum to see what other veterans think!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 11:35 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 23:35:35 -0500

Sir, I have benefited from RallyPoint because this is a site that I am comfortable with. It is great to be able to network with great folks that have gone through the same things that you have, and understand the impact that it has on your life. My wish is that I have positively impacted others on RallyPoint.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 12:19 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 00:19:40 -0500

I always like talking with other military members and vets, it's a great way to get new perspective on the way you handle things in your day-to-day whether you're still in or you've been out for a while, and it can be a great place to learn relevant information from current and former senior leaders in a somewhat casual environment. I think I just asked my first question on here in the last week or so, so RP has definitely impacted me more than I impacted it.
I hate discussing politics with just about anybody, RP or face-to-face, and I see a lot of politics on here. To be honest, I haven't enjoyed politics since high school, and that stuff just makes me angry to the point where it's made me physically tired to even hear about it, especially because people have become so galvanized in their opinions in the last few years.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Mar 2 at 2016 7:34 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 07:34:24 -0500

I'm still learning how fast the Army can move while standing perfectly still. Since 9/11 it's been a whirlwind of deployments, stop loss, redeployments, sequestration, uniform changes, and the required regulation changes. Many of those were started wile I was still in, but never got to see the effects of them until now. RP with the SM's serving shows me that as crazy as it was, it's still as crazy, but predictable at the same time. From the senior enlisted meetings with the SMA, the complaints are still the same, uniforms have changed, Soldiers still have no clue what D&C is in some cases, we're at war, even with ourselves, and in the end...we still fight for each other. Moving at Ludachris Speed while going nowhere fast. If anyone sees Lord Dark Helmet, tell him 1SG wants a word with him.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 7:55 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 07:55:28 -0500

LTC Stephen F. I think we joined on the same day or very close to it. I have enjoyed RP and hopefully I have contributed.

Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made Mar 2 at 2016 9:29 AM

LTC Thomas Tennant — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:29:36 -0500

Unlike other social media, RallyPoint is great because by virtue everyone of us have served ensures q quality membership. As I dive deeper into RP I find that we all share some common core values that ensure our discussions are on point and free of the disruptive and demining verbiage I have experienced elsewhere. RP is a great forum for vets to discuss issues and maybe....just maybe...we can impact the world around us. Once A Soldier, Always A Soldier! We all continue to serve because we understand that service is its own reward.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 2 at 2016 8:30 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:30:12 -0500

LTC Stephen F. I have made some great connections here on RallyPoint and I have gotten a lot of great veterans working and helping other veterans with Sponsor a Vet Life. I've made some great client connections as well that are leading to some very good partnerships for Sponsor a Vet Life as well. I've learned alot about the other services and military history while be associated with RallyPoint. In the end I hope that I've influenced a view RP Members as well as helped them as best I can. It's a great site and I'll be here for years to come or as long as they will have me!