Should volunteering on Social Media be considered the same as volunteering in person?

2016-01-05T21:40:12-05:00

So many in the military volunteer their time for various reasons. They can help school kids with their homework or drive a van transporting veterans to the VA hospital. Over time the internet has changed the way we live, work, and help others. You can go online and seek assistance from various websites. Even here on Rallypoint we work to help another with advance and support those trying to advance to their career. I have spoke with countless service members on various topics helping them. Should this be considered community service? We may not be there in person but we are helping the military/veteran community. We are even able to reach out to those that can't get out of their home if they don't want too.

With this taking place on a daily basis should this type of volunteering be recognizable? Should soldiers that help others or volunteer for a site or forum be eligible for the Military Outstanding Volunteering Medal?

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Jan 5 at 2016 9:44 PM

2016-01-05T21:44:12-05:00

Yes. If, you are giving time it shouldn't matter. Besides, with Skye, video chat, other social media you do get see the person if a face is needed.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 5 at 2016 10:02 PM

2016-01-05T22:02:38-05:00

Volunteering is about donating your time, energy and talent. I don't see why volunteering on social media should be viewed any differently than volunteering elsewhere.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jan 5 at 2016 10:21 PM

2016-01-05T22:21:44-05:00

The issue may be the community in which you are servicing.

To qualify for award of the MOVSM a Servicemember’s volunteer service must meet the following requirements:
(1) Be to the civilian community, to include the military Family community.
(2) Be significant in nature and produce tangible results.
(3) Reflect favorably on the Army and DOD.
(4) Be of a sustained and direct nature.

The MOVSM is intended to recognize exceptional community support over time and not a single act or achievement. Further, it is intended to honor direct support of community activities. For the purpose of this award, attending membership meetings or social events of a community service group is not considered qualifying service, while manning a community crisis action telephone line is considered qualifying service.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 5 at 2016 10:24 PM

2016-01-05T22:24:18-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Volunteering counts - done! If a log of time/hours expended is maintained and justified a record of actions - interactions accomplished.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 5 at 2016 10:26 PM

2016-01-05T22:26:38-05:00

This is a great question.

On its face, they should be identical.

However, "in person" volunteerin typically has some additional "overhead" or burden associated with it. It becomes more structured, and as such it has a higher assigned value. It's not that it's actually more difficult, just more tedious.

So, that said I would a parallel between volunteering / social-volunteering & commuting / telecommuting.

Response by SGT Felicia King made Jan 5 at 2016 10:39 PM

2016-01-05T22:39:47-05:00

Volunteering is volunteering your time, not your input. People spend way too much time looking down at their smartphones or in internet chat rooms. Too many times do I see people eating dinner together, but instead of talking to each other they are playing on their smartphones.
So I think if you're going to volunteer, it should be your whole physical self with that person, and not just behind a computer screen. Otherwise, how are they even to learn how to trust you if they can't even see you?

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jan 5 at 2016 10:46 PM

2016-01-05T22:46:04-05:00

Your time is time. No matter where it's spent. If you're volunteering it should be counted. If for MOVM, then it would need to be documented. My suggestion, if doing volunteer work, it might behoove you to keep something like a 1594 tracking your time. This way if some one asked, all you got to do is produce it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2016 11:54 PM

2016-01-05T23:54:43-05:00

Do people really track their own volunteering time for an award?

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jan 6 at 2016 1:21 AM

2016-01-06T01:21:58-05:00

When you are doing it in an official website for the specific purpose of offering a service, yes, it can and would be accepted as legit public service. You just have to make sure you have it set up right.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Jan 9 at 2016 5:11 PM

2016-01-09T17:11:21-05:00

I have seriously wondered if I could get the MOVSM for time spent working as an RP Admin. I hope so.