Posted on Feb 12, 2026
How should we use AI to to benefit our military & veteran community?
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Just about everything online these days says it has some type of "AI" in it. How do you think we should use AI to help increase quality of life, career success, or other important aspects of the military and veteran experience?
Posted in these groups: 
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Enjoying Life
Military Life
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
DoD
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Enjoying Life Military Life Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) DoD
Posted 23 h ago
Responses: 7
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I would use it to make war obsolete. There are reasons for war, and most of those are still the same: resources, territory, land, water, oil, rare earths...ego and religion- perhaps an AI driven study of History, War, and intelligent use of resources could lead to removing all but the existential reasons for war. The Human Psyche demands domination...maybe an AI could modify that. I know it is a pipe dream...but An AI has access to a much bigger set of brains than I have...and If I can imagine it...maybe it can too.
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SFC John Skaarup
SGT Hughes, I appreciate the hope behind your comment, but after a career in uniform and another twenty years in cybersecurity, I have come to believe that war has never been a technology problem. It has always been a people problem. The first recorded act of violence in human history was when Cain decided a rock was the best way to finish an argument with Abel. That was the moment we learned that tools change, but human nature does not.
Every major leap in technology since then has followed the same pattern. Bronze made killing easier than stone. Iron made it easier than bronze. Gunpowder made it easier than blades. Industrialization made it easier than muskets. Nuclear weapons made it easier than artillery. Each innovation promised to end war by making it too costly to fight, yet all it really did was make war more efficient.
AI is no different. It is powerful, but it is still a tool in human hands. In Ukraine we are watching the strange mix of AI powered drones operating over trenches that look like they were carved in 1916. That is the perfect example of the truth we keep relearning. Technology evolves, but the reasons people fight do not. Territory, fear, resources, pride, identity, and the basic human instinct to dominate. Those forces have been with us since the beginning.
I am all for using AI to reduce friction, improve decision making, and keep our troops safer. However, expecting AI to eliminate war is like expecting grass to stop growing. Conflict is part of the human condition. The best we can do is use technology to make smarter choices, reduce unnecessary suffering, and give leaders better information than they have ever had before. AI can help us fight better and live better, but it cannot make us stop being human.
Every major leap in technology since then has followed the same pattern. Bronze made killing easier than stone. Iron made it easier than bronze. Gunpowder made it easier than blades. Industrialization made it easier than muskets. Nuclear weapons made it easier than artillery. Each innovation promised to end war by making it too costly to fight, yet all it really did was make war more efficient.
AI is no different. It is powerful, but it is still a tool in human hands. In Ukraine we are watching the strange mix of AI powered drones operating over trenches that look like they were carved in 1916. That is the perfect example of the truth we keep relearning. Technology evolves, but the reasons people fight do not. Territory, fear, resources, pride, identity, and the basic human instinct to dominate. Those forces have been with us since the beginning.
I am all for using AI to reduce friction, improve decision making, and keep our troops safer. However, expecting AI to eliminate war is like expecting grass to stop growing. Conflict is part of the human condition. The best we can do is use technology to make smarter choices, reduce unnecessary suffering, and give leaders better information than they have ever had before. AI can help us fight better and live better, but it cannot make us stop being human.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
SFC John Skaarup - No holes in your argument. I agree. If we all sat down and figured out what works for most folks, we could eliminate most problems. But, as you noted...sigh...the grass will keep growing. And that observation you made about WW I trench Warfare with Drone Activity ....kinds of nails it. War as ancient as can be, fought with Star Trek Technology. I keep hoping (and I know it is futile) but maybe some day...lol
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SFC John Skaarup
SGT Kevin Hughes - There's an old Thomas Paine saying that I put on my retirement shadow box, "If there must be (war), let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."
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RallyPoint is a specialized professional and social network (often described as "LinkedIn for the military") designed for current U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. It has nearly 2 million members and focuses on secure, verified connections based on military service, units, deployments, and shared experiences. Key features include: Peer-to-peer mentorship and advice
Networking and reconnecting with old comrades.
Discussion forums on military life, career transitions, education, and personal topics
Job placement and career tools (especially for transitioning to civilian roles)
Sharing stories, photos, and updates in a trusted environment
AI can significantly enhance the user experience on a platform like RallyPoint by making it more personalized, efficient, supportive, and engaging—while respecting the community's emphasis on trust, privacy, and military-specific needs. Here are several practical ways AI could improve it:
1. Advanced Personalized Recommendations AI-powered recommendation engines (similar to those already piloted with Amazon Personalize) can suggest more relevant connections, jobs, and content. For example: Matching users with mentors based on rank, MOS/AFSC/rate, deployment history, career stage, and shared challenges (e.g., recommending a veteran who successfully transitioned from infantry to tech sales to someone in a similar position).
Surfacing tailored job listings by translating military experience into civilian equivalents and prioritizing military-friendly employers.
Suggesting relevant discussions, groups, or Q&A threads based on a user's profile and activity.
This has already shown results like 35% better engagement in career recommendations in past collaborations.
2. Smarter Search and Discovery Natural language search that understands military jargon (e.g., "PCS to Fort Bragg advice" or " transitioning 11B to civilian LE jobs") and returns precise results from discussions, profiles, or resources. AI-driven unit or buddy finder that goes beyond basic filters to suggest reconnections using semantic similarity in service histories or geographic locations.
3. Content Moderation and Community Health AI tools to detect toxic behavior, misinformation, or sensitive topics (e.g., mental health crises) while preserving open discussion.
Automated flagging of posts needing moderator review, or gentle nudges toward resources like VA support when certain keywords appear.
4. Enhanced Support and Mental Health Features AI chatbots or virtual assistants for initial, non-clinical support—offering quick answers on benefits, GI Bill questions, or transition checklists, then seamlessly escalating to human peers or professionals.
Sentiment analysis on posts/comments to proactively identify users who might benefit from connecting with peer counselors or support groups.
5. Personalized Feed and Engagement: A smarter newsfeed that prioritizes high-value content like timely advice from verified peers, rather than just chronological posts.
AI-generated summaries of long discussion threads or "trending in your unit/branch" highlights to help busy users stay informed.
6. Career and Transition Tools: Resume builders or profile enhancers that use AI to automatically translate military accomplishments into civilian-friendly language.
Predictive analytics for career paths, suggesting next steps (e.g., certifications, education) based on successful transitions of similar profiles.
7. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Real-time captioning/transcription for shared videos or live events.
AI-powered translation for discussions involving international allies or non-native English speakers in the community.
RallyPoint has already explored AI in areas like job personalization (via AWS partnerships) and marketing/outreach (via Zeta Global in 2024), showing the platform is open to these integrations.
Future enhancements would need to prioritize data privacy, avoid over-automation of human peer connections, and maintain the verified, military-only trust that defines the network. Overall, AI's biggest value lies in amplifying RallyPoint's core strength—peer-driven support—by surfacing the right people, opportunities, and information at the right time, making the military community's "lifetime journey" smoother and more connected.
Networking and reconnecting with old comrades.
Discussion forums on military life, career transitions, education, and personal topics
Job placement and career tools (especially for transitioning to civilian roles)
Sharing stories, photos, and updates in a trusted environment
AI can significantly enhance the user experience on a platform like RallyPoint by making it more personalized, efficient, supportive, and engaging—while respecting the community's emphasis on trust, privacy, and military-specific needs. Here are several practical ways AI could improve it:
1. Advanced Personalized Recommendations AI-powered recommendation engines (similar to those already piloted with Amazon Personalize) can suggest more relevant connections, jobs, and content. For example: Matching users with mentors based on rank, MOS/AFSC/rate, deployment history, career stage, and shared challenges (e.g., recommending a veteran who successfully transitioned from infantry to tech sales to someone in a similar position).
Surfacing tailored job listings by translating military experience into civilian equivalents and prioritizing military-friendly employers.
Suggesting relevant discussions, groups, or Q&A threads based on a user's profile and activity.
This has already shown results like 35% better engagement in career recommendations in past collaborations.
2. Smarter Search and Discovery Natural language search that understands military jargon (e.g., "PCS to Fort Bragg advice" or " transitioning 11B to civilian LE jobs") and returns precise results from discussions, profiles, or resources. AI-driven unit or buddy finder that goes beyond basic filters to suggest reconnections using semantic similarity in service histories or geographic locations.
3. Content Moderation and Community Health AI tools to detect toxic behavior, misinformation, or sensitive topics (e.g., mental health crises) while preserving open discussion.
Automated flagging of posts needing moderator review, or gentle nudges toward resources like VA support when certain keywords appear.
4. Enhanced Support and Mental Health Features AI chatbots or virtual assistants for initial, non-clinical support—offering quick answers on benefits, GI Bill questions, or transition checklists, then seamlessly escalating to human peers or professionals.
Sentiment analysis on posts/comments to proactively identify users who might benefit from connecting with peer counselors or support groups.
5. Personalized Feed and Engagement: A smarter newsfeed that prioritizes high-value content like timely advice from verified peers, rather than just chronological posts.
AI-generated summaries of long discussion threads or "trending in your unit/branch" highlights to help busy users stay informed.
6. Career and Transition Tools: Resume builders or profile enhancers that use AI to automatically translate military accomplishments into civilian-friendly language.
Predictive analytics for career paths, suggesting next steps (e.g., certifications, education) based on successful transitions of similar profiles.
7. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Real-time captioning/transcription for shared videos or live events.
AI-powered translation for discussions involving international allies or non-native English speakers in the community.
RallyPoint has already explored AI in areas like job personalization (via AWS partnerships) and marketing/outreach (via Zeta Global in 2024), showing the platform is open to these integrations.
Future enhancements would need to prioritize data privacy, avoid over-automation of human peer connections, and maintain the verified, military-only trust that defines the network. Overall, AI's biggest value lies in amplifying RallyPoint's core strength—peer-driven support—by surfacing the right people, opportunities, and information at the right time, making the military community's "lifetime journey" smoother and more connected.
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SGT Kevin Hughes
Wow...some horsepower under the RP Leadership hood. Concrete examples and areas where AI fits the mission. Well done.
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After twenty years in uniform and another twenty in cybersecurity, I look at AI the same way I looked at any new tool in the Army. If it helps the mission, reduces friction, and gives people time back, we should use it. If it creates more work or confusion, we should leave it alone.
For quality of life, AI can take a lot of the administrative burden off service members. Scheduling, medical appointments, PCS planning, benefits navigation, and all the other tasks that eat up hours can be handled in minutes. That means more time for training, family, and recovery.
For career success, AI can help troops translate their military experience into civilian language, build resumes, prepare for interviews, and explore career paths they may not have considered. A lot of veterans do not struggle because of a lack of skill. They struggle because they do not know how to communicate what they already bring to the table. AI can bridge that gap. (FYI the resume's coming out of TAP are a travesty).
For the force, AI can support training, planning, maintenance forecasting, and knowledge retention. It will NOT replace leadership or experience, but it can make leaders more informed and Soldiers more prepared.
The key is simple. Use AI as you would any other tool; to remove friction, not add to it. Use it to make life easier, not harder. If it improves readiness, reduces stress, and helps service members and veterans navigate their careers and benefits with less frustration, then it is worth using. The human element still matters most. AI is just another tool to help us take care of people and accomplish the mission.
For quality of life, AI can take a lot of the administrative burden off service members. Scheduling, medical appointments, PCS planning, benefits navigation, and all the other tasks that eat up hours can be handled in minutes. That means more time for training, family, and recovery.
For career success, AI can help troops translate their military experience into civilian language, build resumes, prepare for interviews, and explore career paths they may not have considered. A lot of veterans do not struggle because of a lack of skill. They struggle because they do not know how to communicate what they already bring to the table. AI can bridge that gap. (FYI the resume's coming out of TAP are a travesty).
For the force, AI can support training, planning, maintenance forecasting, and knowledge retention. It will NOT replace leadership or experience, but it can make leaders more informed and Soldiers more prepared.
The key is simple. Use AI as you would any other tool; to remove friction, not add to it. Use it to make life easier, not harder. If it improves readiness, reduces stress, and helps service members and veterans navigate their careers and benefits with less frustration, then it is worth using. The human element still matters most. AI is just another tool to help us take care of people and accomplish the mission.
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