Posted on Feb 4, 2016
How does RallyPoint help units and followers of the unit?
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How should my unit use/not use RallyPoint, since there are already other AKO/GKO pages, sharepoint, milConnect sites, etc. which I feel are more secure because they require login with a CAC?
Wanted to hear from units that use or don't use RallyPoint on what advantages and disadvantages RallyPoint provides them.
Wanted to hear from units that use or don't use RallyPoint on what advantages and disadvantages RallyPoint provides them.
Posted in these groups: 
RallyPoint
OPSEC
RallyPoint OPSEC
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
CPT (Join to see) - I'm the CEO of RallyPoint and am happy to add my thoughts, though obviously I'm biased. As to the question of using a CAC enabled site or not, the pros are that a CAC enabled site is more secure, but the con is that virtually none of your Soldiers will log on to it unless they have to. They also can't reach it on their phone, which is where Soldiers spend the overwhelming amount of their internet time.
We're both in the National Guard, so we know how difficult it is to get people to sign something in between drill, let alone log in on a regular basis. You do get added security with CAC, but it's so secure that most junior Soldiers can't log on to it themselves. I've never seen a unit AKO/GKO/sharepoint site that gets any engagement except for when people *must* log on to get something very specific, and even then half the people can't get to it. So the pro is that RallyPoint is more convenient, engaging, and accessible on any device. The bottom line I guess is that one shouldn't post anything sensitive on RallyPoint, but that should be self-evident. If one does have something sensitive to post, you can announce to the unit page on RP with a link to go log in with a CAC. The reality is that unless Soldiers work in an IT job, they are not going to be accessing CAC sites unless they absolutely have to. CompanyCommand.com used to be a really popular site among Army leaders until it was absorbed by West Point and became CAC enabled, and that finished it off.
A second question, if deciding to go non-CAC enabled, is about about FB versus RP. I recently posted about this in another thread, and will copy it here:
FB certainly has some benefits, in that a lot of people are already on it which makes the setup process easier, but there are other pros/cons to consider:
1) On RP, people are under their real name/identity. They therefore tend to be more civil and professional than Facebook.
2) People don't have to confuse their social and professional life. For example, on Facebook people may post about a party or other personal matters one moment, and then expect to respond to a Platoon Sergeant the next moment. It can get sort of odd, and I imagine a bit dangerous for "spill over" from the social to the professional within the group.
3) You can learn a lot more about the people you're actually engaging with by looking at their military background on RP. It's true that within a unit as small as a platoon, everybody should know everyone, but what about everybody's schools? Their past assignments? Their deployments? Friends know their friends, but what about the whole group? On RP people's backgrounds are more transparent, which can also help with onboarding new members to the Platoon.
4) This may be the most important - RallyPoint exists entirely for the mission of connecting service members and veterans. You therefore have the ears of attention of our staff (I'm the CEO). If there are features your platoon needs, we can help build those out for you. If you have a question about something, it goes straight to our team. Facebook obviously can't support that.
5) After members leave the platoon, you can still stay connected and get notified about their career moves (both in the military and in the private sector). I'm assuming you don't want to connect on FB with every member of your unit, as that may be professionally inappropriate, and you probably don't want to see pictures of their lunch for the rest of your life either. On RP, you can stay professionally connected as you both move through your careers.
Finally, I would invite SMSgt (Join to see) to add any of own thoughts, as he and his team have been ahead of the curve on adoption from the Air Force side and doing some great things.
Feel free to send me a contact request if you want to chat about anything privately. Glad to have you on board!
We're both in the National Guard, so we know how difficult it is to get people to sign something in between drill, let alone log in on a regular basis. You do get added security with CAC, but it's so secure that most junior Soldiers can't log on to it themselves. I've never seen a unit AKO/GKO/sharepoint site that gets any engagement except for when people *must* log on to get something very specific, and even then half the people can't get to it. So the pro is that RallyPoint is more convenient, engaging, and accessible on any device. The bottom line I guess is that one shouldn't post anything sensitive on RallyPoint, but that should be self-evident. If one does have something sensitive to post, you can announce to the unit page on RP with a link to go log in with a CAC. The reality is that unless Soldiers work in an IT job, they are not going to be accessing CAC sites unless they absolutely have to. CompanyCommand.com used to be a really popular site among Army leaders until it was absorbed by West Point and became CAC enabled, and that finished it off.
A second question, if deciding to go non-CAC enabled, is about about FB versus RP. I recently posted about this in another thread, and will copy it here:
FB certainly has some benefits, in that a lot of people are already on it which makes the setup process easier, but there are other pros/cons to consider:
1) On RP, people are under their real name/identity. They therefore tend to be more civil and professional than Facebook.
2) People don't have to confuse their social and professional life. For example, on Facebook people may post about a party or other personal matters one moment, and then expect to respond to a Platoon Sergeant the next moment. It can get sort of odd, and I imagine a bit dangerous for "spill over" from the social to the professional within the group.
3) You can learn a lot more about the people you're actually engaging with by looking at their military background on RP. It's true that within a unit as small as a platoon, everybody should know everyone, but what about everybody's schools? Their past assignments? Their deployments? Friends know their friends, but what about the whole group? On RP people's backgrounds are more transparent, which can also help with onboarding new members to the Platoon.
4) This may be the most important - RallyPoint exists entirely for the mission of connecting service members and veterans. You therefore have the ears of attention of our staff (I'm the CEO). If there are features your platoon needs, we can help build those out for you. If you have a question about something, it goes straight to our team. Facebook obviously can't support that.
5) After members leave the platoon, you can still stay connected and get notified about their career moves (both in the military and in the private sector). I'm assuming you don't want to connect on FB with every member of your unit, as that may be professionally inappropriate, and you probably don't want to see pictures of their lunch for the rest of your life either. On RP, you can stay professionally connected as you both move through your careers.
Finally, I would invite SMSgt (Join to see) to add any of own thoughts, as he and his team have been ahead of the curve on adoption from the Air Force side and doing some great things.
Feel free to send me a contact request if you want to chat about anything privately. Glad to have you on board!
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CPT (Join to see)
Great advice! Thanks for the information, I see great potential but am worried about not only concepts but with unprofessional comments, complaints, etc
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LTC Yinon Weiss
CPT (Join to see) - Fair concern, but something to keep in mind... your Soldiers are having whatever conversations they're going to have already. It's only a matter whether you want to help guide it, or let it happen on its own in odd ball cornered places. I don't think that using a unit page can ever foster unprofessional comments, though it could reflect the kind of command climate you already have. It's therefore also an opportunity to guide and improve it.
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SMSgt (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) I would invite you to take a look at my AFSC page...I'm pretty sure you may have seen it before but go back and take a look at it from the perspective of use for unit communication.
This past FY we downsized the MAJCOM level staffing and it took me from having 12 people to disseminate information to the 4K DirtBoyz to 1 person...me. So we started looking for ways to get information out to the masses from a strategic level. We already had portals, SharePoints, etc. but we needed one central place to disseminate info. We attempted FB and well it was a train wreck. So during a transition summit in D.C. I met LTC Yinon Weiss and Elizabeth Malkin from RP. They spoke briefly on how RP was working to help veterans transition so we started a conversation as to what they can offer us for our needs. We took a trip to RP HQ and laid out what would make the site more beneficial to us. If you look on my page, or even your page you will see a development tab...this was a direct result of a request from us and RP added it for us. If you go to mine you will see a dozen or so links, many of them take you to a CAC enabled site. So we aren't sharing sensitive information on RP but I am able to provide links to important sites and at the same time reach down to the lowest airman with information that affects them, their career or their mission.
There is still hesitation, especially in some of the older SNCOs that just don't like social media but our numbers are growing steadily. The people that have taken the leap rave about it because they have access to my position in ways they never have before. We even have our 2-star briefing it as a source to gain insight into the happenings of the civil engineer mission. Overall, it is a great option...it does take time to manage, but compared to the portals/SharePoints it is much much less time consuming.
If you have more questions feel free to PM me.
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/3e2x1-pavements-and-construction-equipment-dirtboyz
This past FY we downsized the MAJCOM level staffing and it took me from having 12 people to disseminate information to the 4K DirtBoyz to 1 person...me. So we started looking for ways to get information out to the masses from a strategic level. We already had portals, SharePoints, etc. but we needed one central place to disseminate info. We attempted FB and well it was a train wreck. So during a transition summit in D.C. I met LTC Yinon Weiss and Elizabeth Malkin from RP. They spoke briefly on how RP was working to help veterans transition so we started a conversation as to what they can offer us for our needs. We took a trip to RP HQ and laid out what would make the site more beneficial to us. If you look on my page, or even your page you will see a development tab...this was a direct result of a request from us and RP added it for us. If you go to mine you will see a dozen or so links, many of them take you to a CAC enabled site. So we aren't sharing sensitive information on RP but I am able to provide links to important sites and at the same time reach down to the lowest airman with information that affects them, their career or their mission.
There is still hesitation, especially in some of the older SNCOs that just don't like social media but our numbers are growing steadily. The people that have taken the leap rave about it because they have access to my position in ways they never have before. We even have our 2-star briefing it as a source to gain insight into the happenings of the civil engineer mission. Overall, it is a great option...it does take time to manage, but compared to the portals/SharePoints it is much much less time consuming.
If you have more questions feel free to PM me.
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/3e2x1-pavements-and-construction-equipment-dirtboyz
Pavements and Construction Equipment (DirtBoyz) (3E2X1): Learn and connect on RallyPoint
Connect with 3E2X1s on RallyPoint. Share you knowledge and get the career advice you need from others with your experience.
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I've haven't really thought of a unit using RallyPoint until you mentioned it, but off the top of my head, I think it would be a great place for units to share Newcomer Information about the unit, post, and surrounding area. They could share information about housing, school districts, family activities, etc...
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LTC Yinon Weiss
That's a great point. We have a wiki function on every unit page (on desktop) that members can contribute to. That's one of the RallyPoint features which unfortunately is underutilized. Wiki functions are a great way to rapidly collect information.
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SMSgt (Join to see)
you are right on target MAJ (Join to see)! We use it not only for one unit, but for an entire career field in the Air Force.
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