What are your thoughts on including initials (MBA, PHD) after a member's name?

I think if someone wants to be insulting to those of us who do on a blanket basis, that says a lot more about the character of the insulter than it does about the alphabet-soup sporting target.

Having said that, and you can take this from a guy who's earned nine college degrees, the person makes the degree, not the other way around. If you're going to do it, use your highest degree only, not an entire alphabet soup. Know your audience.

Also, regarding RallyPoint, some of us are not active duty (I'm USAR myself) and having a credential after your name just might bring you to someone's attention who understands that credential and wants to talk to you about a job.

Good question. Most who do it are probably grooming their egos, but in light of the networking aspects of social media it's probably not a bad thing. I found my new job via LinkedIn due to credentials listed after my name (and it's a SUWEEEET job!).

I think if you have earned it, you should go ahead and share your credentials for a quick look. If I really want to verify, I will go to your page. I would think that one should limit it to one certification only though. Any more than that, it is overboard.

The truth is that people deserve to be proud of their accomplishments, and they should be allowed to post accordingly. The modest can stay that way and the proud can feel validated.

I truly don't care one way or the other, nor do I understand why it bothers some folks, while others get an ego boost from the practice.

I don't understand why some folks have to be so touchy and/or argumentative about what others like to do? Why do some people think every little behavior, idiosyncrasy, habit or practice needs to be "regulated" by RP Staff or anyone else?

In more cases than not these days, all those acronyms are simply the sign posts of educated idiots, that have spent years being indoctrinated by the institutions from which they graduated, they got no real education and even less real usable knowledge. Many I've met and interacted with that put PHD's after their names were just that... little better than "educated Idiots"!

I spent a dozen years taking college level classes, carefully selecting classes that would expand my knowledge base and improve my ability to do my job as a Fire Inspector, Investigator and Building and Fire Code Compliance Administrator. I studied many Fire and Bldg. Codes, Regulations and Standards so I might better serve the Citizens in the jurisdiction where I worked.

I have been certified in many of those areas of expertise, but don't see the need of adding a string of alphabet soup that would further elongate the Title(s) under which I've served on numerous occasions.

If Mr. Jennings feels the practice is "grandstanding"... maybe Mr. Jennings needs to re-evaluate his thought process. Some people work very hard to achieve their MBA, PHD's etc., etc. & actually learn something in the process... others... not so much.

It's just like in some cases people get promoted to fill a "diversity quota", because they're a member of a protected class, not necessarily because they're the best qualified for the position! I've had people get promoted over me because they were female, Hispanic, Indian-American, Gay or whatever else in order to fill an EEOC/Diversity Quota... not because they were the best person qualified for the job... and to add insult to injury... I was frequently assigned to the newly promoted to assist them because they couldn't function completely in their position after the promotion.

So in essence... they got the increase in pay, benefits and privilege's that came along with the promotion and I got to do their work for them in addition to my own!

Such is life in the 21st Century...

My opinion it's pointless to add civilian degrees in a military community as the one does not necessarily confer expertise in the other. It is equally pointless to ban the practice. Only mentioning the degrees or certifications in specific responses as support for a statement is to me valuable. And the donuts.

The letters behind my name is USMC!!

Helps me understand who I am talking to.
- Dr. LCPL MBA MD PHD EDD MA JD NUCE DD DDS DED BAM BBA BCE

I have a Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.), but I only use M.S. at work and on here. I have an Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) also from the Army, so I like to avoid the confusion.

I think it helps. I also think it is a personal choice. Some people here put every degree they have after their name. I think it is good for branding for recruiters to get a quick picture.