Is RallyPoint supposed to replace the chain of command and NCO support channel?

I agree with your post but this is a complicated issue. I feel that maybe we as leaders do fail when this happens but we must remember that those posting are o a different generation. Their lives revolve around social media. They go where they feel most comfortable and that is social media.
I am not completely sure how I feel hit part of the problem may be that senior people respond to these posts with advice. This is both good and bad. Part of me wants to say that the only reaponse should be "take it to your chain or support chain". But, remember these young soldiers live on their phones and social media. It will be interesting to see how this type of issue plays out over the next few years.

This will never change the CoC. However, they may feel comfortable speaking their minds in a forum where they won't be judged and where people actually LISTEN to them.

I would say supplement your chain of support. There are many of us who will look at problems differently, thus the solutions might be different.

No I am not sure they are being lazy but if someone is willing to go out there and get some insight from a few NCO's how can that be a bad thing? I agree that if a younger enlisted needs guidance should definitely seek advise from his/ her first leader but we have all known a few first line leaders that fell short on mentorship.

MSG (Join to see) There could be any number of reasons why an E2 would ask a 'simple' question on RP or a SM would relate a 'raw deal' or personnel problem seeking counsel which might otherwise come from the COC. Rather than shut these folks down I think the attitude here is to take the question at face value and try to provide a good response. At the same time we should also add the advice to make the same inquiry within their COC and suggest the person or position who is more likely to know the answer and give them straight advice. There seems to be a number of such questions coming from reserve or NG units where troops live a distance from their units and only see the units on a monthly basis.

This question poses several interesting observations.

I'm a member of a Facebook group designed for Air Force E-9s (Chiefs) to answer questions in a "virtual online panel" type forum. As I read some of the questions, they would seem to support your point; some are perhaps questions with answers available through either individual research or using the chain of command. But, these Airmen are getting steered that way in many responses as well. Some of the Chiefs (and other SNCO subject-matter experts) are not very polite when they tell the OP to "look it up" or to "ask your supervisor." Some, on the other hand, provide links and thoughtful interpretation the young Airmen may not be able to get from their SSG who may be unavailable or less experienced.

I think social media is changing the way our young warfighter (of all branches) communicate. Is it relpacing the chain of command? I don't think so. Not if the chain of command, especially first-line supervisors, are involved in the lives of their troops. Are those asking questions just being lazy? Good question SFC--and you know, probably some are and some aren't and we can usually tell the difference, right? ;-)

I have responded a few times here in the last month that you just hit with an 8 pound sledge.

I can hardly believe some of the questions are asked on here that should be asked of team leaders, or even assistant squad leaders, if they have those anymore, even a squad leader should be queried about these posts first.

It's the sign of the newest generation that have no respect for their leadership, AND a failure of the leadership within the platoon to not give a briefing about RP, I was in during a period when computers came bursting on the scene and was given OPSEC briefings from the very beginning about what you put online and where.

Now on the other side of the coin, if a Soldier has already exhausted ALL resources at his disposal, then I agree this would be a forum to get information.

As an E5 section sergeant I was asked a question by an OC during an NTC rotation. I had to be honest, the training manual didn't give the answer to the question. So the OC said he would find the answer and mail me the info, I thought ok, this won't happen. It took that OC about a month to find the answer, but he did snail mail me a copy of the FM, and newest TM that answered the question.

Now I understand that not every question can be screened but there should be a response from, maybe there should be a first comment asking "Did you ask your COC before posting this question?".

Maybe I'm just old fashioned about this whole deal.

Although I Only Served 4 Years,
I Was In Management For FMC, Then Self Employed For 27 Years Before Retiring.
I Think I Can Safely Say "Leadership Is Sadly Lacking, Both IN And OUT Of The Service"
Many Don't Lead With Confidence,Therefore Get Little Respect.
THIS Can Easily Lead To The Enlisted Lower Ranks To NOT Go To Them For Advise...
Simply Not Confident In Their Leaderships Ability To Give The Proper Advise..

Unfortunately, I think it is primarily leadership that is lacking actual leadership on a fairly epic level.

RECENTLY I assisted a SM get a medical extension because his unit, chain of command and the medical providers had all FAILED him. It took a great deal of frustration and dealing with people and providers who refused to do their jobs, to get there but finally THANKFULLY we were in front of the General on his FINAL day in the Army (no longer his final day --- he is now extended and awaiting his MEB ) (story is shared
I have often heard stories from other SM's who have had COC's who they feared for reasons of retaliation. If they took a LEGITIMATE issue to them, quite often that COC had a field day with the soldier and would begin to ostracize them.
SM's (especially JR. Enlisted) need to understand that simply because someone says that is the way it is done, does not make it right.
This has carried over into the civilian work force that supports those commands, treating soldiers as if they are an annoyance or a nuisance. It truly is disturbing to see.

calling someone lower enlisted people is probably why people complain about their command...

I think there are several reasons why things are brought to RP instead of the chain of command.

In most cases it is just a convenience. In some it may be that the SM does not want to burden his superiors. Perhaps in some the SM feels his lack of knowledge would be looked upon as a deficiency.

In the cases of complaining about the chain of command I suspect some have found that is is not a good practice,

Some questions that I ask, as a lower-enlisted, have already been directed to my leadership, but never answered. Sadly, the NCO Corps has deteriorated. It is not what it used to be. You can disagree with me, if you choose, but I know more useless NCOs than genuine leaders. In the last three years, I have met 4 legitimate LEADERS that wore NCO stripes. Most others are Rank-WEARERS, and not Rank-BEARERS. Which is why about two months back, I posed the question to RallyPoint, asking for Mentorship and Guidance on how to be a better leader and future NCO. Because the "leaders" I have here, are far from it. They care more about lifting weights in the gym and getting trashed at home after work than taking the time to lead and mentor their Joes.

I see your point and partily agree. When I was a young Spc I would use the internet as a research tool. Many of the forums did not exsit. So this is a form of research. The question is did they use this as research and then go to the command. Many times I was told wroung informationand I think this is because many people get promoted to fast and have no idea what they are talking about. But they can recite the NCO Creed which i guess makes them amazing and competent NCOs.

What would be the point of RallyPoint if you were not able to ask people of different MOS's and experience, what would they do to formulate an opinion or plan/course of action? This is a discussion forum I thought?

I think you have to look at the generation of the people asking questions. For nearly all of the junior enlisted the Internet IS where you go for information. As a father of three with the youngest about to graduate from high school I can tell you it's what they are taught to do. EVERYTHING is done online now- homework, job applications, work schedules, social activity. It's not necessarily that the leadership isn't there or not doing its job, it's that for the current youngest service members (including new officers) this is the natural method of finding out what you want to know.

Before I retired, the Army was pushing a mentorship program. I personally think many of these Junior ( MSG (Join to see). They are Junior Enlisted, not "lower". They are not "lower" than you, they are junior in rank to you. If you do not get the distinction you might be part of the problem you are seeing.) Service Members are using a medium of research we, as an older generation, were not used to growing up. I would like to think that Rally Point is a good place for Junior Service Members to reach out to mentors that can help them with self development.

Gathering data from specialists in the field is research. I applaud junior enlisted for using this forum to begin their research.

While i would hope that Soldier would have someone in their chain they can talk to. The current generation is more used to Social Media and it truly is their community. Also in some cases Social Media may be the only way to bring a problem to light if it continues to be ignored or the SM is in a Unit with Toxic Leadership.
The Day You Stop Hearing SM Complain Is The Day You Need To Really Start Worrying!

It also depends on the leaderships effectiveness. Your right that soldiers should go through the proper channels when an issue comes up. With that said I've seen leadership that was actually toxic to unit moral and affectiveness. Sometimes it helps to get advice from other military personnel. Granted that advice shouldn't be intended to cause a service member harm.

Most responses I've seen are helpful and in courage soldiers to speak with their leadership.

I believe it's an issue with those personnel in "leadership" roles that are not doing their job and perhaps do not have the answers or simply don't know how to research themselves. Junior Soldiers have a right to ask questions and in today's age their form of initial research is asking through social meadia. That's why most senior leaders here respond with correct and doctrinal references and publications for those soldiers to read and start somewhere. But you are right junior soldiers need to be more involved and take some initiative and not wait for "hand me downs"