Why do so many military members come here to the internet to ask questions? Do NCOs no longer mentor their joes?

I don't think it's particularly anyone's failing this is just a tool we have now in addition to NCO mentorship.

I retired in 2013. That said what I noticed was I had young soldiers ask me lots of questions. I never told a soldier to shut up that I remember and I hardly ever got mad. My first observation is that promoting people to E5, E6, E7, even E8 fast tends to leaders who do not know what the answer is and they do not want to appear as if they do not know by asking someone else. 2nd thing young soldiers are trying to gain rank as quickly as possible so this becomes a resource to get that information independently from anyone in the unit.

Some things asked not all NCO's or chain of command know or carr about. Some things they want are in the TM's and SOP but that information is not always kept in readily availble option for junior enlisted or junior officers. As the resourse keeper for TM's and directives for my old unit we did not keep everything on hand for everyone to get to as it was not in my SOP to order and keep track of.

I don't think it is a matter of NCOs not mentoring, but service members getting smarter about social media. Honestly, there were times where I wish I would have had the opportunity as a young service member to bounce ideas off of NCOs outside of my chain in an open and non-threatening environment to help me solve some of my issues. I think it is important to realize that sometimes, the questions come from people who may have already looked in the reg, or asked their NCO, and just want some additional guidance.

The era of social media. Younger people who experience awkward social contact use that which they know.

I use RP as a source of information and opinions. I am the kind of guy that wants to know what to expect before i get to a schoolnor a new assignment. It lowers the stress for me to at least have an idea of what awaits me. RP has been great for this.

I suspect there are a few instances of a soldier didnt like the answer he got and was hoping to get a better one.

I hear what others have posted, but I think many fear an actual IRL conversation. They’d rather go to the nameless faceless internet where it’s easy and done for them than have a tough conversation