Why don't we discuss topics that are more relevant to Junior enlisted?

As NCOs it should be y'all's responsibility to help guide the junior enlisted. Y'all have already been down that road. As leaders you should guide them and help them. Don't wait for them to ask for help.

Afters reading the comments and some that have answered my comment I have observed at least one thing
1 our junior enlisted are participating on RP and because I use the phone app more than the full version I am unable to see the questions they have asked( these are on their profile page under "questions asked).
So maybe RP can highlight the junior enlisted question for the mobile app so we can respond and help these SM feel like they have skin in the game

If we want RallyPoint to be more junior enlisted friendly then the junior enlisted need to be more involved. They need to ask questions, start discussions and reply to discussions. This is a great tool if used properly.

I see the same junior enlisted responding to discussions. More service members are needed to spread the word or else we will never get the junior enlisted onto a level playing field.

The amount of discussion on a topic is relative to the post - far any pay grade. A lot of people ask direct questions that are answered in a few responses and don't require a lot of discussion.

Take this post. At the time of my response, rough count, there are 4 responses from junior enlisted.

I'm always happy to participate in any discussion where I can provide some meaningful (OK, in some cases for humor's sake meaningless) input.

Here's a thought. As a form of mentorship, why not when we post a response, randomly tag a few junior enlisted and invite them to the conversation, could be anyone, people we know, people we don't, from the same MOS or military post. I'm inviting 10 JE 25Us to this discussion. Lets hear from our target audience.

To my fellow RallyPointers listed below: First off welcome. Please join in on this and all conversations as we'd love to hear from you! You have a lot to offer and your opinions and points of view are as valuable to all of us regardless of rank as, hopefully, ours can be to you.

PFC (Join to see), SPC (Join to see) , PFC (Join to see), SPC Megan Hibke, SGT Joshua Montague, SPC Allen Davis, SPC (Join to see), SPC Jose "Joe" Rodriguez, SPC Brittany Smith , SPC Breanne Powell

I will say all subjects are of interest to all ranks just some lower enlisted don't understand the subjects I understand a lot of them because I choose to ask questions to learn more

I think there needs to be discussions at the Unit level, especially with E-1 to E-4 about their career progression, where they can go for information, how and when to apply for schools for career advancement, what it means to earn retirement points and how those points are calculated... It's not easy for newly enlisted to ask for help and sometimes they don't know what they're suppose to be asking in the first place. Start with the basics, teach them how to help themselves.

SFC Loveless,

I think part of the issue lies in the fact that there is a certain fear element within lower enlisted. Not a fear element that they don t trust their leaders, just a fear element that they are afraid of kick backs and reprisals. So its got to be a trade off.

If there is a junior enlisted who thinks that SSD is retarded, so be it. Maybe they are still trying to adhere to their chain of command and wait for an NCO to voice their opinion, and then go "Ya, YAH!!!! I LIKE THAT IDEA!", and if not, then they stay quiet. Let them voice their opinions when they are ready to. With that being said, I d also encourage them to come out of the closet more often so to speak to voice their opinions and tell them how they feel.

I think a lot of issues stem from policy, not from actual leadership. There is a deep seated root to a lot of the morale/discipline problems and its the fact that we are so stuck and bogged down by red tape, bureaucracy, and mandatory requirements that our proverbial hands are tied. Free that, free the reprisals, and free the mind of the younger guys to explore and ask, rather than down and berate, and I think we might start seeing some of our junior troops come forward rather than take a backseat.

I suppose I could start a thread while I'm contemplating the cosmos.

I may draw some fire for this, but has anyone tried the search tool? Early on in RallyPoint's life, we discussed numerous levels. Some of them were mentioned above. I also agree with MSgt Keith Hebert, we can't answer what isn't asked. The great thing about RallyPoint is that anyone at any rank can ask anything they want. While those us that are admin's do maintain the overall content, we really only block the discussions that do not follow the guidelines set for by RallyPoint.

I highly recommend though that people use the search tool first before saying we aren't discussing a certain topic that they may think is helpful. And if you can't find it, ask. As the saying goes, the only dumb question is the one not asked.

Seriously? Has today's Army really shown that it is interested in hearing the ideas of juniors, enlisted or commissioned? Sure, it pays the lipservice.. but we all know it isn't. Why be surprised if those whose opinions are clearly unwanted follow suite? It is almost like a CSM asking if anyone wants to comment about the commander's leadership style... IT'S A TRAP!

I would rather see this person start these discussions. Trust me when I say that we will be more than happy to jump on in. I can say pretty confidently that this what most of us are here for.

I don't think that anybody would have any issue answering any questions that are asked, but if the questions aren't being asked then nobody can answer them

Very smart soldier!

Suitable for framing !!