Respect and Professionalism on RallyPoint!

I would also point out that respect runs both ways. Just because one person's profile says SPC and another says COL does not give EITHER of them the right to be dismissive or disrespectful.

Share ideas and discuss, and if you disagree, then do so respectfully. There is nothing to be gained by bashing someone over the head with your rank/experience/position.

 As a hole regardless of rank or in service or out we should be at least polite to each other on a basic human level, its just being adults and has little to nothing to do with rank. This is of course a discussion forum so disagreeing with someone of a senior rank shouldn't be seen as disrespectful.(not that it was). Being this is a place where everyone opinion is equal. I haven't noticed near the level of disrespect here that I see on FB. I think though mentioning the UCMJ is maybe taking it further then it needs to go.

I always say “in all respect” before I agree to disagree! But when a service member (former or present) doesn’t give it to another (insulting/denigrating) one, I follow “to get respect, show respect!”

Doesn't seem to be the case. Members don't really care what they do or say here from my experience and treat this like Facebook. I have lost my cool only with retired members because of the asinine remarks. And who is enforcing any of this? Am I supposed call a person's unit and tell their command that I was disrespected? Sounds pretty lame.

Hear hear, Top! Well said.

Keep in mind too Jack Essig, soldiers come here to learn and gain info,if this turns out to be just another site where chain of commands pulls rank on people what good will this site be for your soldiers???This is an open forum, not an official military site and you also have vets like me that do not have to adhere to the military way of thinking, I have seen too many chains that were scared of open door policy because they were weak and feared to be called out for being such, so they pulled rank and lost all respect, I hope this isnt the case here???

1SG Essig, you've definitely hit on a root problem that the military community is running into on all fronts- what IS social media to us and what actions need to be taken to ensure service members act appropriately.

The short answer is that even social media sites are public forums and are covered by the appropriate articles in UCMJ regarding public conduct.

The longer answer is that we as NCOs need to address these issues with our Soldiers and ensure that they understand the implications of what they say coming back to haunt them. I've never personally seen this discussed besides a passing comment during a safety brief here and there, but it is definitely a topic that needs to make its way into NCO professional development to be filtered down to our junior enlisted.