Why do soldiers, primarily junior enlisted, come to Rally Point to ask questions?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 02:04:35 -0500

I'm genuinely curious why soldiers come to rally point to ask questions, instead of asking their first line leadership.

Are NCO's not competent to find answers anymore? Is there a lack of trust? Do they want to ask online to feel more anonymous?

Surely there is a reason as to why, but I'm unsure if this is something that's been discussed before or not. Please let me know your opinions.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Feb 4 at 2021 4:54 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 04:54:25 -0500

Rally point is a resource they can use. More resources available is a good thing, and most of us here give it to them straight.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 4 at 2021 6:54 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 06:54:31 -0500

I believe some of it is a lack of confidence in CoC. I see this a lot in the "can my SGT do X" (or "can my Commander to X") type questions. It is really hard to ask your SL if your TL is out of line - or worse, ask yout TL if your SL is out of line.
Some of it is not wanting to appear stupid to CoC. If you have a "great idea" or personal plan for your career but not sure if it is REALLY great or proper, it is better to vet it here before proposing it to your CoC and looking like an idiot.
Some of it is an honest search for a breadth and depth of opinion that can't be found by asking one person (i.e. asking your FLL). I see this in the "what is a good way to X" or "advice about X" posts.

Regardless, most of the time, these questions are helpful - both for the SM asking, and any of the active NCOs or Officers answering (or reading responses). The SMs get professional advice, and the answerers get a chance to A) help Soldiers, and B) expand their experience and think about new concepts or think about them in a different way. It may also open eyes to experiences that NCOs didn't realize were happening, and give them a chance to take a look at their own troops and see if they see warning signs of bad things that they hadn't thought to look for.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 7:04 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:04:15 -0500

I believe there are two things that motivate this :
1. It's easy, covienient, and somewhat anonymous to get on your device and ask a question. This can be done at any time of the day.

2. They did go to FFL and did not like the answer. Maybe they can get the second opinion they want from the social media lawyers

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Feb 4 at 2021 7:53 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:53:30 -0500

They're probably doing both (asking their supervisors and asking here). Why?

1. To verify what their leadership is telling them.
2. To find justification to dispute whatever their leadership is telling them.

Regardless, RP is another useful tool for them to get info, and many people on RP want to continue helping young troops get the information they need.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 9:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 09:02:52 -0500

Think about the question you just answered for the Soldier asking to swap assignments for Korea. Everything you told that Soldier was incorrect. Soldiers usually come here to ask questions after receiving mixed and contradicting information from their leaders and peers.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 4 at 2021 10:22 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:22:30 -0500

I notice there is a substantial amount of Soliders asking questions in comparison to other branches. I'm guessing there are a few factors.

They need information and feel more comfortable asking questions in this format and platform. I remember how hard it was getting information as an E-2 and E-3. We didn't have the benefit of social media back then.

They keep getting bum scoop from barracks lawyers who know everything. This is one thing that ahs not changed over the years.

and lastly I think their leadership is possibly failing them. Even if they have the right information, if the junior enlisted doesn't feel their question will be heard or that they will be received in a positive fashion they will opt for the internet.

It is easy to crap on them but you can't view everything through the lens of "when I was an E-2......". It's a new era with new issues and new solutions.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 12:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 12:46:54 -0500

I've noticed that:
There are soldiers who come on here without asking their CoC for the simplest of things that only their CoC can answer.

They got a crap answer from their CoC.

They're trying to get more information and find resources.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 4 at 2021 2:09 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 14:09:57 -0500

I think leaders of junior soldiers haven't impressed upon their joes that they should use the CoC first and not step out of the CoC unless absolutely necessary. I also think that the current generation of young adults have not heard the word "no" enough to understand that "no" is a legitimate answer so they try to find ways around it. More or less, it's a leadership issue at its core. IMHO.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 3:54 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 15:54:08 -0500

Probably the same reason anybody does. Nobody at their unit knows and won't put in the work to look it up. So whatever action they're looking for, nobody in their chain of command does anything to address the issue because they don't know, either.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 4:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 16:07:16 -0500

Good question SGT Hamilton, reality is that most of us get misinformed by our 'leaders' for two reasons:
1. They don't know.
2. They are not honest and don't care about their subordinates.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of seniors who are in their rank or position due to favor but not because of their knowledge. And other seniors are greedy and don't like to share. This is based on my personal experience. I am not sure there are many out there, trying to leave a ready to fight Army after they retire, many care less.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Feb 4 at 2021 5:35 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:35:21 -0500

I would think that they probably DO consult their unit's NCO's and others as well. RP is a good place to one, VERIFY info, or two, get advice on ways to get a waiver, or just knowledge from the experience pool here. Sadly, someone like myself who has been out so long (1978) can't always give TIMELY advice.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Feb 4 at 2021 5:54 PM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:54:50 -0500

Simple. Incompetent Leadership and Poor Training. Anyone ever heard of a "regulations library"? It's dry reading, but very informative.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Feb 4 at 2021 7:38 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 19:38:52 -0500

In some cases it may be to see if someone else has had similar or the same circumstances and how it worked out for them. I don't know that I would trust all of the advice on here but some light can be shed at time.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2021 5:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 17:15:12 -0500

I'm pretty new to the RP community and asked a question here yesterday to see if I could get an issue resolved. I've been in contact with my unit and have either been flat out ignored with no response, or have been seemingly getting the runaround. I was informed from others I worked with that it takes 2 weeks to get a transfer done, yet I've been waiting for 4+ months now. I have been trying to contact others for assistance, but so many either don't answer or give an answer that doesn't really answer the question or resolve the issues. The few that do respond back say they don't have any information and they will contact me back, then I hear nothing from them. I reach out for an update, and again I either get no response, or informed there still isn't an update. I'll even ask for contact info to talk to someone else, and still have received nothing. It's very clear nothing is being done. I don't know if it's because COVID hit or what, but I feel like they don't care about my career and are okay with stalling it once again. A previous accidental clerical error made by someone I do not know prevented me from reenlisting, getting promoted, and moving forward in my career. I was told it would take 3 months to fix. Yet, it took nearly 2 years altogether. I went through all of the proper channels - including IG - and a simple clerical error still took 2 years to fix, stalling my career greatly. I'm still in the same unit. I've been promoted into a vacant position in another unit, and now they're once again dropping the ball and my career is again being stalled. I have come to RP to seek advice and knowledge about the situation. I am continuing to talk to my unit, but am going nowhere at this point. I turned to RP as an option to possibly help me with solving my issue. I wouldn't be here if I thought it could be done the normal way. However, I do like this platform, and appreciate the help. I would like to be able to help Soldiers who have had similar issues, as well as other problems they may be facing. I think this is a good option for Soldiers to seek assistance when they feel it's not working the normal way, and for others to help Soldiers out.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2021 10:25 AM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 10:25:41 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member Rally Point consists of an institutional memory across all branches, all ranks and decades of experience. An individual may post a question, a comment or start a new discussion thread without involving unit/office or personal relationships and politics. Answers range from simple “yes” or “no”, to references about relevant documents, through extensive discussion threads on the topic posted. Most responses are polite, professional and to the point.
These factors create an appealing environment, especially for junior enlisted who have been told since basic that they belong to an inferior species of humanity. This perception makes them reluctant to ask questions of their NCOs, and to search out other sources of information.

Response by SPC Johnathan Collier made Feb 6 at 2021 9:29 PM

SPC Johnathan Collier — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 21:29:02 -0500

I once had a guy in my squad with financial problems. His family was about to get evicted from their home and he was in a bad way. So me being his squad leader at the time, i naively think 'surely our leadership can do something. We have all these resources. At least see if we ca put together a few bucks to help him out for a month.'

The chain of command betrayed that soldier before my very eyes, berated him for having financial issues in front of the whole battery and then gave him an article 14 for it and did seemingly everything in their power to ruin his life. I watched helplessly, as my guy got destroyed and at every turn the chain of command blocked any and all attempts at helping him. The rest of my guys and our battalion watched it, too. And that is why junior enlisted never, ever go to the chain of command: because the chain of command always makes it worse, no matter what *it* actually is.

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Feb 3 at 2022 5:53 PM

MSG Kevin Elliott — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 17:53:24 -0500

It could be for a number of different reasons. Research, Lack of trust in the COC, Trying to verify what they have been told or heard from the COC or the barracks lawyers or their buddy.
Not all leaders are good leaders. My Squad Leader when I was going to the promotion board told me that the way to keep control of your soldiers was to lie to them, so they would keep coming back to you for more information. Not my type of communication, but I have seen and heard of variations on this theme. I have also had leaders who would rather have the soldier find the answer on their own, rather than give them the answer. Depending on the situation, that may be a beneficial method, but I liked talking to my soldiers, helping them with their careers, their lives, and anything else they wanted to talk about.
I have also been in units where the barracks were under Post Housing and assignments were mixed, so soldiers from different units were on the same quad. Soldiers would come talk to me about issues they should have gone to their Platoon Sergeant with, because they brought it up in the barracks and my soldiers would send them to me. I would discuss their issues with them, and always direct them to go back to their leaders to discuss it. Sometimes their leaders would come back and ask why I was talking to their soldiers.

Response by PO3 Pamala McBrayer made Sep 17 at 2022 1:25 AM

PO3 Pamala McBrayer — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 01:25:58 -0400

There is a leadership quality issue in the military and this “woke crap” is probably to blame. Some questions are too dangerous to even ask in the CoC.