Posted on Jun 1, 2019
Are junior military leaders actually using RallyPoint to gain insight and guidance?
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Just trying to figure out of RallyPoint is a relevant medium to mentor junior leaders.
Platoon Leader
NCO Academy
2d Lt
Executive Officer
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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I'm not a fan of Rally Point on the mentoring side of the house. Mostly because it's still just a social media platform. Mentoring needs a more personal touch to be truly effective. Sure some people may learn a thing or two, but it probably won't be something big enough to really change the way a person conducts themselves as a leader. At least with the Army Career Tracker there is a personal component of actually having daily contact with that person.
Secondly, there are too many posts on here that are sheer laziness from junior leaders that just didn't want to do the due diligence to figure it out themselves. Asking questions that could literally be answered within 5 minutes of opening the applicable doctrine or regulation. These people aren't looking for mentorship. They want an easy answer they don't have to work for, or hoping for some barracks lawyer to point them in some vague direction of willing ignorance.
Rally Point may provide some leaders with guidance and advice, but calling it mentorship might be a stretch.
Secondly, there are too many posts on here that are sheer laziness from junior leaders that just didn't want to do the due diligence to figure it out themselves. Asking questions that could literally be answered within 5 minutes of opening the applicable doctrine or regulation. These people aren't looking for mentorship. They want an easy answer they don't have to work for, or hoping for some barracks lawyer to point them in some vague direction of willing ignorance.
Rally Point may provide some leaders with guidance and advice, but calling it mentorship might be a stretch.
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SSG Dale London
I tend to agree. Most of the time I see Rally Point being used as a knowledge bank and a sounding board. That's fine as far as it goes and there is a real need for this service but as for mentoring, SSG Bradshaw is right. It needs to be one-on-one.
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LTC Jason Mackay
1LT (Join to see) - I try to be civil but obvious, I didn't even google it myself posts drive me over the edge.
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PO2 Buddy Stewart
"Secondly, there are too many posts on here that are sheer laziness from junior leaders that just didn't want to do the due diligence to figure it out themselves. " It's easier to ask dad where the screwdriver is than go look for it.
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I really wish junior soldiers would get on here and read all the "I have a RE Code of 3 or 4 and really want to come back in" posts, before they get themselves chaptered and dig that hole for themselves.
It is a good way to see what people perceive when the military happens to them. 90% of the stuff on here could be solved with a candid interpersonal conversation.
It is a good way to see what people perceive when the military happens to them. 90% of the stuff on here could be solved with a candid interpersonal conversation.
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I don't see much from PL's & XO's.
I see E3 and below being mouthy; and a lot of retired leaders telling them to check themselves. (Better here than to their supervisors, but UCMJ could still catch them).
A lot of foolish E5 questions, that make me shake my head.... but, they could be brand new E5's, and back in 2008-9, promotion to E5 was becoming automatic, so I dismiss it, as direct promotions, like E4 used to be.
There is a lot of experience in the user group; but it doesn't feel like a professional platform like LinkedIn yet.... and still it is more professional than Facebook.
I see E3 and below being mouthy; and a lot of retired leaders telling them to check themselves. (Better here than to their supervisors, but UCMJ could still catch them).
A lot of foolish E5 questions, that make me shake my head.... but, they could be brand new E5's, and back in 2008-9, promotion to E5 was becoming automatic, so I dismiss it, as direct promotions, like E4 used to be.
There is a lot of experience in the user group; but it doesn't feel like a professional platform like LinkedIn yet.... and still it is more professional than Facebook.
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CPT (Join to see)
Really appreciate this feedback. Unfortunately doesn't take much to be more professional than gruntstyles Facebook page hahaha!
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There are some Lieutenants on here seeking mentorship and advice on SOPs and the like. The problem is RP is ill suited to exchange documents and files. They expect you take that off line and do a person to person exchange. That is good for that one guy, but it isn't for the next guy asking them same thing.
This is a generalization for all RP users: NO ONE looks for the answer first on RP. The search engine is terrible and many use the wrong terminology either in their post or in their search to find the previous posts. Unless one of the Graybeards or frequent users post a link, it's just out there in the ether. Unused and unknown. Frequent wheel reinvention.
Can my Commander....? Yes, very likely and other RP Questions Answered in One Place
https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/before-you-ask-have-you-looked-at-what-is-there
This is a generalization for all RP users: NO ONE looks for the answer first on RP. The search engine is terrible and many use the wrong terminology either in their post or in their search to find the previous posts. Unless one of the Graybeards or frequent users post a link, it's just out there in the ether. Unused and unknown. Frequent wheel reinvention.
Can my Commander....? Yes, very likely and other RP Questions Answered in One Place
https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/before-you-ask-have-you-looked-at-what-is-there
Can my Commander....? Yes, very likely and other RP Questions Answered in One Place Rally...
Can my Commander....? Yes, very likely and other RP Questions Answered in One Place Rally Pointers, I am taking a RP Sabbatical to focus on some personal and professional pursuits. Until I return…A great number of RallyPoint posts are seeking ‘quick turn around’ on what the ‘regs’ say about a certain topic due to an impending show down with Army unit leadership. These questions are challenging to provide advice to due to the lack of basic...
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I used Rallypoint to communicate with ANC officers and NCOs. It has been helpful.
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I don’t know about others here sir, but I value the insights shared and questions asked/answered. While there’s no replacement for “real life”, RP has helped me in my career.
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Often the hardworking junior leaders are too damn busy to be on here.
I can remember how much time Inhad as a junio NCO (before social media) and as a 2LT Platoon Leader (after social media) and there wasn't a whole lot of time.
I agree with the other comments that the search engine could use some work and document sharing is almost nonexistent.
Perhaps a RP toolbox would be a solution.
I can remember how much time Inhad as a junio NCO (before social media) and as a 2LT Platoon Leader (after social media) and there wasn't a whole lot of time.
I agree with the other comments that the search engine could use some work and document sharing is almost nonexistent.
Perhaps a RP toolbox would be a solution.
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CPT (Join to see)
I disagree on this for the majority. I think the majority of single lieutenants and junior NCOs have plenty of time outside of the duty day to spend 30 min a night to self-develop. Now whether that's by cracking open a manual, researching or reading about history and leadership, or jumping on here and interacting with senior leaders and retirees outside of their COC that are looking to develop eager young leaders.
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CPT (Join to see)
Erik, you're right about the importance of it.
You may have imisinterpreted my meaning though.
I'm suggesting that after a minimum of a 60-70 hour week, with Soldiers, and other officers texting and calling at night, the odd bailout from jail, the occassional 0430 battallion formation for a 0730 battalion run, uniform maintenance (though we don't press our uniforms and polish boots anymore) and additional duties, that social media may not be their first target for mentorship or anything at all.
Add to that a junior leader who has a young family who he/she barely sees, with a spouse that wants their attention and perhaps religious obligations, plus trying to catch up with being a husband and spouse after deployments, there's a big demand on their time.
Going off on tangent or two
We hear about so many things that are important: No fail missions...
And when EVERYTHING is important, NOTHING is important.
For example: Famiies being important seems to be only paid lip service by many leaders.
As leaders ourselves, we need to make sure that isn't the case.
So that extra 30 minutes a night... after 52 weeks a year... We wonder why people get burned out, have health issues and get divorced. And when these things happen we only shake our heads and keep doing the same thing to the next guy, and ourselves.
You may have imisinterpreted my meaning though.
I'm suggesting that after a minimum of a 60-70 hour week, with Soldiers, and other officers texting and calling at night, the odd bailout from jail, the occassional 0430 battallion formation for a 0730 battalion run, uniform maintenance (though we don't press our uniforms and polish boots anymore) and additional duties, that social media may not be their first target for mentorship or anything at all.
Add to that a junior leader who has a young family who he/she barely sees, with a spouse that wants their attention and perhaps religious obligations, plus trying to catch up with being a husband and spouse after deployments, there's a big demand on their time.
Going off on tangent or two
We hear about so many things that are important: No fail missions...
And when EVERYTHING is important, NOTHING is important.
For example: Famiies being important seems to be only paid lip service by many leaders.
As leaders ourselves, we need to make sure that isn't the case.
So that extra 30 minutes a night... after 52 weeks a year... We wonder why people get burned out, have health issues and get divorced. And when these things happen we only shake our heads and keep doing the same thing to the next guy, and ourselves.
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Probably not. Sure, every once in a great while some JO might come on here with a really insightful question...and get a well-thought out, experienced answer; but more often than not, they're asking a question that's heart-breakingly easy to answer for themselves, and getting advice that may be dated, inaccurate, or the whole Happy Meal, when all they wanted was fries on the side. I think RP is what it is... a Military and Veterans' social media site where we can discuss things not normally "in bounds", and gather what knowledge we can from it. Mentorship is more personal, intentional act, and I think MSG Brandshaw hit the nail on the head.
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To an extent.
I love RP because it's instant access to a legacy of wisdom. I come back for discussion, to learn and be challenged. And I know a comment here or a message there is uplifting to others.
I do think having the ability to message others about things is useful in the same sense as mentorship, but still vastly different. For example, asking others about Civil Affairs or advice in handling ethical challenges.
So I would say it's a supplement. I use the discussions that I develop in RP in my lessons with my mentorship chain. But, I don't encourage the average cadet to hop on RP.
For example:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/can-military-service-members-criticize-former-presidents-at-any-level
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-it-s-necessary-to-have-a-ranger-tab-if-you-truly-want-to-be-effective-and-make-a-lasting-difference-in-our-organization
I love RP because it's instant access to a legacy of wisdom. I come back for discussion, to learn and be challenged. And I know a comment here or a message there is uplifting to others.
I do think having the ability to message others about things is useful in the same sense as mentorship, but still vastly different. For example, asking others about Civil Affairs or advice in handling ethical challenges.
So I would say it's a supplement. I use the discussions that I develop in RP in my lessons with my mentorship chain. But, I don't encourage the average cadet to hop on RP.
For example:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/can-military-service-members-criticize-former-presidents-at-any-level
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-you-think-it-s-necessary-to-have-a-ranger-tab-if-you-truly-want-to-be-effective-and-make-a-lasting-difference-in-our-organization
Can military service members criticize former Presidents at any level? | RallyPoint
Thinking specifically of The Hatch Act, can military service members criticize former presidents at any level? This was brought up in an ROTC discussion about the Army Profession and Civilian-Military Relations. Edit: I was corrected on my use of the Hatch Act in this situation, it does not apply (See below, "John Monette"). I suppose I am then referring to UCMJ, USC (United States Code), and the Army policies in place restricting us from...
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I mainly use Rallypoint as a supplemental research tool and a gathering place of anecdotes that are convenient to trending questions from the squad. Most current news articles are reposts from elsewhere, and I feel asking questions here as opposed to doing a bit more personal extensive research will wind up working against me if someone from my organization ends up going through my post history.
I don't say these things as a means of Rallypoint criticism, but rather to say that it serves as a unique niche tool that I utilize fairly often. But I fail to see a legitimate reason to be excessively active within the Rallypoint community. Maybe as a networking tool, but I have limited use for that as a TPU reservist. I recommend it verbally as part of all initial counselings along with milconnect, as they both tend to be underrated tools!
I don't say these things as a means of Rallypoint criticism, but rather to say that it serves as a unique niche tool that I utilize fairly often. But I fail to see a legitimate reason to be excessively active within the Rallypoint community. Maybe as a networking tool, but I have limited use for that as a TPU reservist. I recommend it verbally as part of all initial counselings along with milconnect, as they both tend to be underrated tools!
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