CPT Private RallyPoint Member 21546 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I see one recurring theme here. A lot of confusion on topics due to lack of knowledge or experience. A key point is when someone states that an PFC has to stand at parade rest for an SPC.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On a another level there are topics and issues that do not transcend time. The modern Army faces issues that were not around in the past. To be honest I don&#39;t know how wars were fought when no one even had a Reflective Belt to keep them safe.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This also factors into the ranks of some. I know we try to counter an argument but at times it may be at a level above your understanding. I still don&#39;t understand why we can&#39;t walk on grass. If you are a CSM can you please let me know.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For this reason in the Army we must spend our time in each rank and learn to develop our logic. That is why you will never see a 2LT on a BDE Staff. He or she is not ready or why you will not see an SGT be the Enlisted advisor to the company commander. It is the 1SG.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Should Rallypoint make areas that questions from Enlisted and Senior Enlisted be posted in to find answers from their peers?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Should the same be considered for Company and Field Grade officers?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(This is not limit anyone or too exempt anyone from a discussion but to merely focus a question at an intended group of people.)&lt;/div&gt;<br /><br /><br />**************Update**************<br /><br />This would only be a option that would only be used at the request of the user. It would not be required. You can still buck shot a question to the whole community or would it force you to limit your reach. It would just to gather responses from a target group. 2013-12-15T22:43:55-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 21546

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I see one recurring theme here. A lot of confusion on topics due to lack of knowledge or experience. A key point is when someone states that an PFC has to stand at parade rest for an SPC.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On a another level there are topics and issues that do not transcend time. The modern Army faces issues that were not around in the past. To be honest I don&#39;t know how wars were fought when no one even had a Reflective Belt to keep them safe.&amp;nbsp;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This also factors into the ranks of some. I know we try to counter an argument but at times it may be at a level above your understanding. I still don&#39;t understand why we can&#39;t walk on grass. If you are a CSM can you please let me know.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For this reason in the Army we must spend our time in each rank and learn to develop our logic. That is why you will never see a 2LT on a BDE Staff. He or she is not ready or why you will not see an SGT be the Enlisted advisor to the company commander. It is the 1SG.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Should Rallypoint make areas that questions from Enlisted and Senior Enlisted be posted in to find answers from their peers?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Should the same be considered for Company and Field Grade officers?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;(This is not limit anyone or too exempt anyone from a discussion but to merely focus a question at an intended group of people.)&lt;/div&gt;<br /><br /><br />**************Update**************<br /><br />This would only be a option that would only be used at the request of the user. It would not be required. You can still buck shot a question to the whole community or would it force you to limit your reach. It would just to gather responses from a target group.

2013-12-15T22:43:55-05:00 2013-12-15T22:43:55-05:00 SGM Matthew Quick 21549

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I wouldn&#39;t recommend this.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Junior leaders can learn a lot through this medium AND senior leaders can learn from its junior enlisted force. &amp;nbsp;Knowledge sharing is an important part of our social media culture.

2013-12-15T22:46:00-05:00 2013-12-15T22:46:00-05:00 SSG Robert Burns 21553

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes it needs to remain open so that everyone can benefit on either side.

2013-12-15T22:50:56-05:00 2013-12-15T22:50:56-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 21556

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am not recommending that those would be locked out as they would also be able to comment in these areas but an area were some may want to reach out to their peers as opposed to everyone out there. The intent is not to limit anyone but to focus on a particular group.

2013-12-15T22:54:34-05:00 2013-12-15T22:54:34-05:00 CSM Mike Maynard 21933

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>2LT Rosa - I&#39;ll take a stab at your &quot;walking on the grass&quot; statement.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It&#39;s not that we don&#39;t think anyone should walk on grass, we have you walking on grass all the time for PRT or ceremonies or when cutting it. So, it&#39;s not fair to say that CSMs don&#39;t want you walking on the grass, that&#39;s not it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It&#39;s when there are sidewalks around and you choose to walk on the grass instead of the sidewalk. That&#39;s what a sidewalk is for - otherwise why would we have them. And it&#39;s really no different than a lot of things that we do or have Soldiers do that promotes and improves discipline.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;And practically, if a lot of folks are following the same path on grass, it will become worn and will not present that neat and orderly appearance. Some of it is about the image you project and how people interpret things - if you walk up to a headquarters and everything is painted and all the grass is cut and trimmed and everything just looks &quot;professional&quot;, then that&#39;s the image you will have of that unit and it&#39;s people. It is a non-verbal attempt at conveying the level of discipline and pride that a unit has.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Not sure if that answers your question sufficiently, but that&#39;s some of the reasoning behind it.&lt;/div&gt;

2013-12-16T18:04:50-05:00 2013-12-16T18:04:50-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 143915

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Tough Crowd<br />I do think RP could benefit from some organization of sub forums. <br />Also Victory would be imposable without the reflective belt.

2014-06-04T20:17:03-04:00 2014-06-04T20:17:03-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 225699

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I just want to say that I put this out there a while back and now it is coming into fruition. Maybe I was wise before my time.

2014-09-02T22:03:40-04:00 2014-09-02T22:03:40-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 361097

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is a horrible idea, for multiple reasons, hence the down vote. <br /><br />- You are talking about fundamentally changing the structure of this website. This is not a forum, this is an answer board. You cannot create "areas" for targeted demographics without changing this site from the latter to the former.<br /><br />- You say this is not to limit anyone or exempt anyone from a discussion, but that contradicts the entire purpose of what you're proposing. You either have what we have now, a gamut of all ranks/branches/specialties talking to each other, or partitioned areas where only certain demographics can communicate. There is no in between in this. <br /><br />- With the above point established, if this were to be implemented it would obviously fracture the community. Some lower ranks come here explicitly to gain insight from their more senior peers. To take that away from them, to deny them one of the most important perks of being a member of this community, is just selfish IMO.<br /><br />I could go on, but frankly this line of thought should be self explanatory, and I'm honestly surprised that this is something that people would want for this site.<br /><br />Pre-post edit: I'm just now seeing that his thread is nearly a year old. I'm posting this anyway as my point(s) still stand.

2014-12-08T16:39:51-05:00 2014-12-08T16:39:51-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 361687

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I agree with many of the original responses in that I feel the page should remain open to all ranks and experience levels as an unbiased and diverse knowladge sharing format. However I do feel that the option of response filters should be entertained. On both sides of the coin junior leaders can gain a lot of valuable insight from their senior&#39;s career experiences and seniors gain a lot of leadership value from the opinions of the juniors in which they lead however, in certain topics individuals lack the ability to speak with hands on information on the subject. If a question is posed regarding a topic that is intended for soldiers who are within a specified rank category I feel that you may get a much more accurate picture of opinions and advice if your target audience were only able to respond. Meanwhile all soldiers should be able to view the page in order to gain the valuable knowledge within it&#39;s posts. There are times just with any sensing session or other survey type format where peoples opinions may be valued more or less based on a sliding scale. If the question is about quality of life in the barracks for example I would value more the opinions of my soldiers living in the barracks versus a SSG, CSM or even married SGT OR PFC. However if the question specifically targeted the budgeting constraints to barracks quality of life it would be the opposite...just my opinion

2014-12-09T02:02:10-05:00 2014-12-09T02:02:10-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 361736

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Damn Eric, you really know how to stir a hornets nest (even if it stays dormant for almost a year first). <br /><br />We should catch up sometime, it&#39;s been too long brother. Happy Holidays.

2014-12-09T04:44:19-05:00 2014-12-09T04:44:19-05:00 SSgt Private RallyPoint Member 361746

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think there is risk of being haughty with the assumption being you have to be an E-7 or above to be taken seriously. This would make younger veterans feel that their opinion may not be wanted and that would be a huge mistake.<br /><br />There are those topics that refer to a policy or customs and these could have a category unto themselves. The rest of the topics are more general in nature even though they can relate to specific issues like jobs, healthcare and etc.<br /><br />Were it to change as you describe, I would stop coming. Period.

2014-12-09T05:19:17-05:00 2014-12-09T05:19:17-05:00 CW3 Clayton C. 361769

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sir,<br /><br />I wouldn&#39;t recommend this for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, exclusion by rank/grade/TiS/TiG or any other way we try to separate ourselves goes against the entire reason rallypoint exists. Now, I understand that there are those that we need to reign in, from time to time, about levels of experience and why things are done a certain way. But that&#39;s the very reason they should be in on these discussions, to learn. Information is power and by withholding information from the more junior in our ranks, we exercise an unnecessary power over them. <br /><br />Now, the important question. Grass and why we stay off of it.<br />This question has no single answer, rather there are many reasons to stay off the grass. Some will say it is about professionalism, others appearance, others will say that it is to keep the grass from dying, but it is definitely a combination. Sidewalks are used for a purpose, to protect grass and landscaping. Grass will wear to the ground if used as a path and then your lawn looks bad. But the most important thing that I was taught was that it would ruin the spit shine on your boots. If you take that shortcut through the grass instead of staying on the sidewalk, when you arrived at your formation for inspection you were sure to fail.<br /><br />I hope I helped to shed some light, or at least gave a point of view which can help you draw a satisfactory conclusion.

2014-12-09T06:57:55-05:00 2014-12-09T06:57:55-05:00 CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 361772

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So long as it remained an option and not a requirement what could it hurt? Sometes there are questions that your peers will have an advantage in answering. Why not take a short cut. I didn't have a negative thought about it when I read the question. I presumed you meant optional.

2014-12-09T06:59:57-05:00 2014-12-09T06:59:57-05:00 PV2 Private RallyPoint Member 362016

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Where does this then leave us Veterans? I like reading the different questions and don&#39;t usually respond to the ones that I&#39;m not comfortable commenting on, but still enjoy reading the exchanges of information. This I feel is really going to close ranks so to speak and really shut out a lot of people. I&#39;ve come to make friends with many active SMs as a result of the open format. Now it sounds like I won&#39;t be able to interact with them as before. Bad bad idea.

2014-12-09T10:49:40-05:00 2014-12-09T10:49:40-05:00 WO1 Private RallyPoint Member 362164

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you want to hit a target group then why not use the TAG by Topics?

2014-12-09T12:03:38-05:00 2014-12-09T12:03:38-05:00 MSG Private RallyPoint Member 362170

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Rank or time in service does not dictate understanding sir. We can all learn from one another which is what makes us the best fighting force in the world. Some of us just have to remember that we all put our pants on the same way and remember to respect one another and remain open minded to other opinions or suggestions. You can learn a lot from a Private as well as a CSM and

2014-12-09T12:03:58-05:00 2014-12-09T12:03:58-05:00 PO1 Private RallyPoint Member 362466

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>OH what a WONDERFUL idea! NOT!<br /><br />If you want to target your message/query use the RP message/mail. This is a public forum. Youngsters and well as some older types learn much from the discussions. Trust me, there&#39;s very little in the modern military that hasn&#39;t been seen before. Certainly there are newer technologies and equipment but the same intent of delivering ordinance on target and killing the bad guy before he/she has an opportunity to try and kill you remains. While I can see why one might want to do limit the conversation to just those one can suck up to and make points with but that effort should be discouraged.<br /><br />BTW - the attempt to use that assinine 1lt getting a salute from a 2lt as an example of why there should be special privileges for conversations - totally wrong.

2014-12-09T14:58:53-05:00 2014-12-09T14:58:53-05:00 1SG Pete Marcell 362968

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In general I&#39;d like to see more of a forum structure here with categories. Currently the site is a splat and I see the same topic surface as people respond to it. Unless of course I&#39;ve missed it, which is entirely possible.

2014-12-09T20:07:04-05:00 2014-12-09T20:07:04-05:00 Capt Richard I P. 362973

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It might cut down some on the proliferation of &quot;do we need X service or Y rank&quot; topics.

2014-12-09T20:16:26-05:00 2014-12-09T20:16:26-05:00 SPC Tate Smith 363076

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sir I actually asked my csm once about the walking on the grass and the reasoning he gave me was that if you take a short cut by walking on the grass then what else would you take short cuts on. It is just showing the disapline to do something correctly.

2014-12-09T21:03:36-05:00 2014-12-09T21:03:36-05:00 1LT William Clardy 363264

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="38789" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/38789-11a-infantry-officer-2nd-bct-101st-abn">CPT Private RallyPoint Member</a>, do you realize that you're asking that RallyPoint create a groupthink option?<br /><br />Are you aware how much institutional knowledge went out the door during the RIFs and restructuring on the 1990s? Not to mention the impact the wars have had on professional standards?<br /><br />Have you ever wondered how the Army in World War II was able to mobilize scores of divisions in just a few years -- smoothly growing in size by an order of magnitude, coordinating industrial mobilization and effectively shipping vast quantities of men and material where they were needed all using not much more than pencils and typewriters -- while today's Army was barely able to add a single division during the Global War On Terror?<br /><br />And there is always this consideration:<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Incompetent-People-Really-Have-No-Clue-Studies-2783375.php">http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Incompetent-People-Really-Have-No-Clue-Studies-2783375.php</a><br /><br />If you really think that today's Army faces issues that lack historical parallel, try naming a few and let's discuss how unprecedented they really are -- or aren't. <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/006/019/qrc/opengraph_default.png?1443028810"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Incompetent-People-Really-Have-No-Clue-Studies-2783375.php">Incompetent People Really Have No Clue, Studies Find / They&#39;re blind to own failings, others&#39;...</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">&quot;Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it,&quot; wrote Kruger, now an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, and Dunning. On the humor test, in which participants were asked to rate jokes according to their funniness (subjects&#39; ratings were matched against those of an &quot;expert&quot; panel of professional comedians), low-scoring subjects were also...</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div>

2014-12-09T22:34:06-05:00 2014-12-09T22:34:06-05:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 363786

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No, how would that help anything? Yes, maybe some of us "lower enlisted" don't know a lot about certain topics, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to input our thoughts into the conversation. Heck, I may be just an E-4 but I guarantee that if I start a conversation about molecular cell biology, that a lot of higher enlisted and officers wouldn't be able to keep up. But, if we separate the discussions based on rank, how can we see other conversations and learn new things from others who may be more experienced in a certain area. I just don't see the positive in it.

2014-12-10T09:06:46-05:00 2014-12-10T09:06:46-05:00 SPC Christopher Smith 363815

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Personally I am sure many people in the RP family could go to bat for me and attest my knowledge runs much deeper than my rank. The beauty of RP is the direct ability to learn from the snakes mouth as a junior personnel, but also offer the knowledge you are unable to on a day to day in a regular unit enviroment. I came into the Army with a BA in Business, I came with many years of leadership experience, my rank does not show this, so on a daily basis, although I might have some experience with a higher level problem I may never be utilized to fix the problem.<br /><br />Things do not need to be changed, because how do we fix the things, and share the ideas that we do without the rank card being thrown just because the sub group says LTC and Up.

2014-12-10T09:23:25-05:00 2014-12-10T09:23:25-05:00 SSG Genaro Negrete 363871

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Perhaps some optional organizational features to assist the individual in filtering through responses would be helpful. As long as all responses are still accessible. <br /><br />I've been surprised many times by the answer's I've seen from all ranks on topics that I don't have a solid understanding of. It can be interesting and is usually worth a good discussion around the water cooler later that day. <br /><br />It it were me, asking a question specific to medical SSG's and SFC's, I wouldn't mind reading what some of the junior enlisted had to say. Especially any medical MSG's and SGM's. It would be a learning opportunity for all.

2014-12-10T09:50:58-05:00 2014-12-10T09:50:58-05:00 PO1 Donald Hammond 365854

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was wondering why I get funny looks when I walk on the grass.<br /><br />My dad, a WWII vet, told me the rules of the Army:<br /><br />1 - if it moves salute it<br />2 - if it doesn't move, put it where it belongs<br />3 - if you can't move it, paint it

2014-12-11T12:08:58-05:00 2014-12-11T12:08:58-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 476097

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Leadership ideas can be brought from ALL areas of the table. Those with experience can certainly police responses to say "Really? Is that a good idea?" <br /><br />I think that sometimes the fresh faces CAN come up with some great ideas. They may know about the "new changes" to the Army to help us from getting stagnant (the main purpose of the up or out promotion style of officers). <br /><br />Additionally, why not let them see what people do at higher levels? That is mentorship at it's finest. These PV2s and PFCs can read about the post, see the challenges that BN and Brigade levels go through, so when they see their buddies going "Dude, these people are screwed up." They can maybe offer a morsel of wisdom shared from those that have done it. It can help people of all levels to grasp how they fit into a team, and understand that the reason some of these policies are in place aren't because we want to "crush our Soldiers will", but because we want to protect them...and the unfortunate reality is that a couple of stupid people can do FAR more damage, not only to themselves and their career, but to the entire chain of command and their peers....and that the concept of supervision is GREAT, but ultimately at times it's like herding cats, and we can never see 100% of what is going on with our troops.<br />v/r,<br />CPT Butler

2015-02-14T14:28:00-05:00 2015-02-14T14:28:00-05:00 SGT Richard H. 584473

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This, right after a Rankism question?

2015-04-10T17:36:50-04:00 2015-04-10T17:36:50-04:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 584507

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What we need are new thinkers and new ways to think how to win the counterinsurgency wars. We followed the COIN manual to a lackluster end. Insurgents greatest strength is their ideology, terrain, and sometimes numbers. How do find and kill them? Well the British had different ideas of fighting insurgents, they used regiments, lived with their indigenous allies, and used their expertise to find the enemy. <br /><br />We absolutely need to question our paradigm of attacking a country with all our military force and rebuilding from the ground up. Carl Von Clausewitz, an 1800s military theorist opined that war has three components, the rational approach of the government, the fighting ability of the military, and the passion of the people. Well guess what, all 3 sucked in Iraq when we left. Looking for new ways is imperative unless we enjoying fighting wars like in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.<br /><br />Now this is not your job to figure this out, but I want to put a seed in your head that we need leaders who become bigger leaders who can understand what are the problems in war.<br /><br />Meanwhile be the best leader you can be.

2015-04-10T17:58:35-04:00 2015-04-10T17:58:35-04:00 SGT Philip Klein 4023152

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Stopped reading after “an PFC”

2018-10-06T08:35:18-04:00 2018-10-06T08:35:18-04:00 2013-12-15T22:43:55-05:00