Why do so many military members come here to the internet to ask questions? Do NCOs no longer mentor their joes?

SGT Trip Heaverly — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:04:35 -0500

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:07 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:07:59 -0500

why didn't you ask your NCOs? LOL

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:11 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:11:13 -0500

No, it's a new culture of getting instant answers of the interwebs. Why seek out your FLL when you carry a computer around all the time.

This is why I jokingly made a post recently that I should have an NCOER bullet that reflects all my effort to be a squad leader for 100s of soldiers that choose not to use their own

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:20:33 -0500

It’s a resource. A lot of the folks who provide answers here cite relevant regs. It’s just another way for the soldier to find the answer. My ego isn’t so fragile that I need my soldiers to be beholden to me for all knowledge and wisdom. Go and use the tools at your disposal, as long as you get a good and proper resolution it’s no big deal to me.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:26 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:26:45 -0500

Should/could the SM go to their leaders, absolutely. However as stated below, they could be blown off, or trying to be proactive in their search. There is also the negative aspect of they do'nt like an answer they were told so they come onto here to attempt to dispute x, y, and z, but i'd like to think that isn't the case ha.

I like RP because where i am at now i am not in charge of a single Army pax, just the other branches, so this keeps me spun up on Army questions/answers. I love helping out SM's regardless of the branch, but can more easily and better answer Army questions so i enjoy when i come across questions on here to give guidance on.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:31:07 -0500

It's not a question of mentorship. Sometimes it is an issue where the service member does not feel comfortable in asking the question to just one person when there may not be a pat yes/no hard written in the regulations answer. Or it way be that they want to generate an honest discussion on issues that they may be wrestling with of a professional or personal nature.
Funny thing is here that I have seen question solicited by all ranks not just enlisted or NCO but Warrant and Connissioned Officers from Warrant Officer 1 thru bird Colonel.
And sometimes it is a useful forum just to vent away from the proverbial flagpole.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:35 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:35:37 -0500

Could be a vast number of reasons. Some are said by SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4". Other reasons could be that they did go to their FLLs and didn't like what they heard....or wanting to "fact check" what they were told. Could also be that the first advice to them came from "barracks lawyers." And, as 1SG Private RallyPoint Member said...there is immediate access to the hand held computer. Plus, not a lot of newer troops....and even a few "seasoned" troops...know where to look. Their google-fu may not be very strong.

At least these troops are going somewhere to find out information and correct answers.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:40 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:40:00 -0500

As a junior enlisted, I can say that my NCO support channel is great, if they know the answers. But I also like to have a broad spectrum of ideas and experience that I cant normally obtain from my Chain of Command.

Response by SSG Samuel Kermon made Feb 28 at 2020 10:40 AM

SSG Samuel Kermon — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:40:32 -0500

I think that is no place like Rallypoint where someone can find so many mentors and answers.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 28 at 2020 10:53 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:53:59 -0500

If you don't trust what you hear, you go somewhere else to confirm or deny that hopefully won't get you in trouble. Then again, a high percentage of the questions are patchmania, I didn't like what I was told, somebody's picking on me, and failure to Google. There's some good stuff, but you usually have to dig for it.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:58 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:58:25 -0500

Confirmation bias often.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 11:16 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:16:20 -0500

My last year in, I had an Airman come to me for advice and support outside of her chain, bypassing her first line supervisor, a Staff Sergeant, and her Master Sergeant flight chief. As for her flight chief, he had just PCS'd into the squadron and, despite being a good guy and very capable NCO, had yet to build up a level of trust among his subordinates. Although he could have handle her questions just as professionally as I did, and in short time earned his flight's trust, for that moment she trusted me.

Rallypoint allows service members to solicit worthwhile advice or answers without the repercussions of unwarranted or failed trust.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Feb 28 at 2020 1:16 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:16:20 -0500

Opinion type questions, I understand, legal and process questions can easily be found on-line. Many times my two grandsons find the answer to their questions before I can answer. I’m sensing laziness.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Feb 28 at 2020 1:21 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:21:52 -0500

Many possible answers; several already suggested. My "pet" theory is that some people believe if they obtain enough positive re-enforcement of their belief, they can overcome objective difficulties. Just my opinion...but I think this is endemic of a larger societal trait; the rejection of absolute truth. Another plausible reason? Some people like to stir the pot.

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 28 at 2020 1:53 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:53:15 -0500

That's in part the the designed function of RP -SM's are either working the problem on their own or are seeking advice in how to work the problem. As well NCO's in their CoC may be part of the problem and SM's are reluctant to confront and pull that pin. NCO's can have a rather large kill radius for junior enlisted.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Feb 28 at 2020 2:18 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:18:22 -0500

It depends on what they're asking. Some people have legitimate issues that they've attempted to resolve via their chain and NCOs and gotten nothing.

Others are sometimes those who just want someone to feel bad for them or they're too lazy to look things up. It's not just junior enlisted. I've seen NCOs asks some pretty asinine questions.

Response by SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins made Feb 28 at 2020 3:04 PM

SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:04:44 -0500

Sometimes having thousands of NCOs to answer a question is faster than a few in your unit who hopefully have the answer.

Response by CPL Earl Kochis made Feb 28 at 2020 4:58 PM

CPL Earl Kochis — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:58:11 -0500

You don’t always get direct or 100% truthful Anvers from your chain of command! I had to do my own research when I was in due to a chain of command that was worried about the fallout if I knew what regs to reference!! This has become a checks and balances on improper leadership as well as a place where a soup sandwich gets put in their place!! Not all Higher ranking individuals are honest with their troops and there are bad ncos as well as officers! This has become the spot where they can get advice to deal with situations like that!!

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 28 at 2020 10:59 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:59:16 -0500

I just think people have grown accustomed to crowd source their opinions or solve their problems. I think the newer generation of individuals tend to not build human connections and that the digital world seems more appealing because the feel of anonymity protects them.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 29 at 2020 1:02 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 01:02:36 -0500

I hear what others have posted, but I think many fear an actual IRL conversation. They’d rather go to the nameless faceless internet where it’s easy and done for them than have a tough conversation

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Feb 29 at 2020 9:26 AM

1SG Alan Boggs — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:26:48 -0500

I suspect there are a few instances of a soldier didnt like the answer he got and was hoping to get a better one.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Feb 29 at 2020 9:30 AM

1SG Alan Boggs — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:30:32 -0500

I use RP as a source of information and opinions. I am the kind of guy that wants to know what to expect before i get to a schoolnor a new assignment. It lowers the stress for me to at least have an idea of what awaits me. RP has been great for this.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 10:22 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 10:22:47 -0500

The era of social media. Younger people who experience awkward social contact use that which they know.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Feb 29 at 2020 12:31 PM

TSgt David Holman — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:31:34 -0500

I don't think it is a matter of NCOs not mentoring, but service members getting smarter about social media. Honestly, there were times where I wish I would have had the opportunity as a young service member to bounce ideas off of NCOs outside of my chain in an open and non-threatening environment to help me solve some of my issues. I think it is important to realize that sometimes, the questions come from people who may have already looked in the reg, or asked their NCO, and just want some additional guidance.

Response by LCpl Mike Niemeyer made Feb 29 at 2020 12:34 PM

LCpl Mike Niemeyer — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:34:24 -0500

Some things asked not all NCO's or chain of command know or carr about. Some things they want are in the TM's and SOP but that information is not always kept in readily availble option for junior enlisted or junior officers. As the resourse keeper for TM's and directives for my old unit we did not keep everything on hand for everyone to get to as it was not in my SOP to order and keep track of.

Response by CMSgt John Owens made Feb 29 at 2020 7:41 PM

CMSgt John Owens — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 19:41:04 -0500

No they are too busy, doing community service, attending college, maybe have a few minutes with family. Plus the NCO's are busy getting promotion fodder... It is all about me to most of the younger generation..You still have some great NCO's, but they probably won't stay in, because they can make a lot more money and not be looked at 24/7 on the civilian side. USAF is more worried about everything but your job and family (AF and Blood kin).

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Feb 29 at 2020 11:11 PM

SGT Robert Wager — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 23:11:15 -0500

There are a million reasons why. The assumption that NCOs do not mentor their Joes May or may not be one of them.

In my time there was no internet that could answer every question possibly posed.
There are several thousand cumulative years of experience on just this site. Why would a soldier not use this resource?

Response by SGT Keith Smith made Apr 15 at 2020 5:45 PM

SGT Keith Smith — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:45:49 -0400

I retired in 2013. That said what I noticed was I had young soldiers ask me lots of questions. I never told a soldier to shut up that I remember and I hardly ever got mad. My first observation is that promoting people to E5, E6, E7, even E8 fast tends to leaders who do not know what the answer is and they do not want to appear as if they do not know by asking someone else. 2nd thing young soldiers are trying to gain rank as quickly as possible so this becomes a resource to get that information independently from anyone in the unit.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2020 4:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2020 16:30:18 -0400

I don't think it's particularly anyone's failing this is just a tool we have now in addition to NCO mentorship.

Response by SP5 Derick Johnsohne made May 4 at 2020 3:44 PM

SP5 Derick Johnsohne — Mon, 04 May 2020 15:44:25 -0400

sign of the time : so much less personal inter-action, no need to involve feelings (fear, shame, insecurity ...) when dealing with digital communication, and lack of personal communication skills, from both sides .