How does RallyPoint help units and followers of the unit?

2016-02-04T16:22:15-05:00

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.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2016 4:25 PM

2016-02-04T16:25:41-05:00

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...

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Feb 4 at 2016 4:32 PM

2016-02-04T16:32:24-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member - 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 Private RallyPoint Member 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!