Why is RallyPoint so much more popular with Soldiers?

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:00:53 -0500

Given the sheer size of the Army you would expect there to be more soldiers on RallyPoint than other service members. My very unscientific opinions from using RallyPoint daily for the last few weeks seem to show the Army grossly overrepresented though!

I'm especially interested in hearing from Air Force/Navy/Marine/Coast Guard on this one. Have you tried to get people in your service to sign up and use RallyPoint?

Is the over penetration of Army users just due to them having too many people and could be used as additional justification for their upcoming personnel cuts (i'm kidding! sort of)?

Most of the Air Force I have spoken with about RP, or invited, don't seem interested because there isn't a tangible benefit for them right now. RallyPoint can't really help much with Air Force assignments, and there are other message boards that have more Air Force users if they want to ask a question.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Feb 11 at 2014 4:09 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:09:00 -0500

Considering the Army is the largest of the components...

http://us-military-branches.findthedata.org/

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 4:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:37:25 -0500

TSgt Dietrich, I honestly have no idea why the Army is utilizing RP more than the other services. Your assumptions about size and assignments seems accurate to me though. I personally like using RP more for the discussions on leadership, training, mentorship, etc. All services can benifit from that kind of information and I find the more I learn to be a very tangible benifit! For assignment info, you need a lot more service members utilizing the site before that becomes truly benificial. Perhaps the reason why RP is so popular amongst Soldiers is because we are using it for the discussions more than the assignment info?

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 11 at 2014 5:21 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:21:51 -0500

Because the Air Force doesn't salute, the Navy doesn't have Fox Holes, and the Marines don't have overweight Soldiers to discriminate against.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 5:50 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:50:02 -0500

The other sister services are not drinking the same kool aid as the Army lol

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Apr 30 at 2014 12:33 PM

SFC Stephen Hester — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:33:38 -0400

Because no one else wants to talk to us?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 10:48 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:48:27 -0400

I invited my Brother the USAF Capt Miller.... He must be having too much fun at LA AFB to set up an account.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jun 18 at 2014 11:32 AM

GySgt Joe Strong — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 11:32:21 -0400

Have you looked at the Togetherweserved, web sites? There is one per branch and while you may need to defend your individual service, you don't have the Branch justifications to deal with. So it's a much easier interaction for those who don't have or enjoy Joint service environments. And if you aren't Army this is very much a Joint Service Environment.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 14 at 2014 9:33 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 21:33:21 -0400

"We like it, we love it, we want more of it!!"

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2014 9:46 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 09:46:08 -0400

Well the name Rallypoint doesn't ring much of a bell to other services unless you were attached to an army unit at one time or another, like I was. If the program would've been named to something like 'military point' or 'joint force' it would inevitably attract more members. Why was it decided to be named Rallypoint, LTC Yinon Weiss?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2014 9:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 21:49:52 -0400

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member, as far as assignments... I think that helps to a limited extent. The size part makes sense, but it's just great for overall information that you can find from all the branches.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2014 12:12 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 00:12:26 -0400

I have a whole other view on this. I think the Army is the most readily able to adapt and incorporate new ideas. We are an Army that is constantly changing. In this change we are always seeking out new resources. This has become a resource to those in the army that we view as a potential tool for us. As you stated in over branches they are not the same. The other branches to me seem complacent in their ability to learn and seek advice internally or they are reluctant to use an resource from outside the military infrastructure.

Response by LCpl A. Chapman made Sep 1 at 2014 12:07 PM

LCpl A. Chapman — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 12:07:57 -0400

I would guess the numbers are proportionate to the branch size in the case of it being majority Army members. I would wonder if many have really even received word of this site existing, since I only just found it myself on Marine Corps Times.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 8 at 2014 10:56 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:56:14 -0500

Because we like looking at the pretty pictures.

Response by PO1 John Y. made Dec 9 at 2014 11:32 AM

PO1 John Y. — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 11:32:51 -0500

I don't recruit for RP but I do tell vets about it. I don't understand why it's relevant what service has the most members on RP. I'm on RP because I am a firm believer in LinkedIn and hope RP becomes that for vets. I also like to help my fellow vets in anyway I can and this seems like a good place to do that. As for a reason for the amount of sailors on here, I don't know and don't know that it matters.

Response by SPC Michael King made Dec 9 at 2014 4:47 PM

SPC Michael King — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:47:19 -0500

This seemed like a military site, so naturally sailors and airmen wouldn't be eligible.

Response by SCPO Carl Wayne Boss made Dec 10 at 2014 1:50 PM

SCPO Carl Wayne Boss — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:50:10 -0500

Maybe RallyPoint is more popular with Soldiers because of the "terminology"... Rally Point is neither a Sea Service nor an Air Force term as far as I know.

I agree with PO1 John Y. ... does it have to be a contest of numbers? If that's the case... the Service I served in for 37 years will never 'win' that contest because we're already the smallest from the outset.

RallyPoint is supposed to be a place where Military Professionals of ALL stripes gather to Network, exchange views, ideas and support one another or have I got it wrong?

SCPO C.W. Boss, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) sends...

Response by SGT Justin Singleton made Jan 3 at 2015 2:04 PM

SGT Justin Singleton — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:04:53 -0500

Along these same lines, I have noticed more higher ranking individuals than lower ranking individuals. I am curious as to why this is.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 11:53 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:53:35 -0500

I feel like it might come down to personality typing, and how certain types (usually) go to their perspective branch.

Without any insults intended;
Navy - slightly goofy? (nuking it)
Air Force - Professional (more civilian adaptability)
Marines - Individualistic/Lone Wolf
Army...maybe not sure and trying to find out if their are others like them in their branch?

haha, like I said, not intending to be insulting here or anything, but just the only thing I could think of that would slightly explain the difference?

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Jan 22 at 2015 7:20 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:20:58 -0500

The first thing that comes to mind is the name. Rally Point is more of an Army/Marines term, I never heard it used in the CG, and I assume that is overall true for the Navy as well.

Response by SPC Angel Guma made Apr 21 at 2015 1:40 PM

SPC Angel Guma — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 13:40:33 -0400

The Army is just bigger, so more clicks.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 10:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 22:41:58 -0400

We're not stuck out on ships all the time like the Navy; the Air Force is too busy doing yoga with aliens from the Stargate; and the Marines are like, "Thog no touch magic lightning box!" (Haha).

OK, actually, I think a lot of it is we have a huge Reserve and Guard force that adds to our numbers. Air, Navy, and Marine Reserve/Guard doesn't have the personnel footprint, competitively.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 5:09 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:09:25 -0400

Being that in the Air Force it is not unusual to see someone get reprimanded for expressing their opinions online, I've seen individuals get Article 15s for it, I'm not surprised that there are very few Airmen participating.

Response by SCPO Carl Wayne Boss made Jul 25 at 2015 6:05 AM

SCPO Carl Wayne Boss — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 06:05:20 -0400

SCPO C. W. Boss UCGG (Retired)
I visit Rally point from time to time, but generally only when I get a Question or comment like this one.
I see a lot more Air Force and Coast Guard Personnel on LinkedIn, I have many "connections" to fellow Coast Guardsman & Women and Air Force Folks, as I was a member of both services with 37 years of combined service. I can only guess why Rally Point is more popular with soldiers, perhaps it has to do with the name "Ralley Point" which is a term that is more familiar to soldiers, than to Sea Services or Air Force Personnel.

Perhaps more Sea Service types may "Rally" if the Site was called "Attention On Deck"!

Response by SCPO Carl Wayne Boss made Jul 25 at 2015 7:06 AM

SCPO Carl Wayne Boss — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 07:06:43 -0400

Just had an epiphany of sorts, maybe part of the reason fewer members of the Sea Services or Air Force or Air National Guard participate is because they get to the part where it says "Verify Account" and they don't want to jump through those kinds of "Hoops"... can't say I blame them.

1. I no longer have a Military E-mail address, I'm "Retired". and have been for near 10 years.
2. Regarding my Government Service Record... It's archived because again, I'm "Retired" The Certificate I received from the POTUS Thanks me for "... over 30 years of Service" ... the orders for retirement pay credit me with over 37 years of service. But I'm not going to give my Social Security or Service Number to this site or anyone else given the problems with Identity Theft and things getting hacked right and left... The government systems that give those numbers to us, aren't secure, so I doubt seriously this site's systems are either.
3. Next is "Send Documentation"... but all the documents requested also have confidential information on them that could be compromised, so these again are "deterrent".
4. If I knew another person that was a member of this Site, that might be a possibility but I'm not aware of anyone of several hundred people I associated with in either the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve or the Air National Guard that are members of this site. So I guess I must forego "Full Access" ... what ever that entails.

But then via LinkedIn, I have hundreds of Connections, contacts or what ever you want to call them in the Military Services with which I've been affiliated... as well as the "Fire Service" in which I've enjoyed a 45 year working membership and hope to remain at work until I complete 50 years of Service. Unfortunately I'm not aware of anyone on LinkedIn that is also a participant on the "RallyPoint" Site!

There was a time when we took Service Members at their word. I guess we're not that trusting any longer. Too Bad. It's a sign of the times I guess.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 8:46 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 20:46:35 -0500

I like that you know who you're talking to and the tone of the discussions are friendly.

Response by CA Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2018 8:13 PM

CA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 20:13:05 -0400

I didn't know rallypoint was a thing til it showed up on my Facebook feed, but even after it did I was skeptical to give out my information. The Navy really beats in opsec safety

Response by 1SG Russell S. made Apr 11 at 2018 10:06 PM

1SG Russell S. — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:06:20 -0400

Marines only use crayons to write with but eat them all and anyway they can't spell to form sentences.

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Apr 11 at 2018 10:30 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:30:26 -0400

Here's a suggestion, let's call it Freedoms Shield!