Why is the "military only" aspect on RallyPoint so important to you?

I have recruited military veterans for several years for oil and gas companies. I think the largest disconnect I have seen from my fellow veterans is lack of understanding of the profit motives of the hiring company. Unlike the military, you are not gonna get 30 days off a 96 hour pass after tough training cycles or NCO Call once a month. You are gonna get a career/job, a paycheck and maybe some benefits if you're lucky nowadays. Rest assured they will show you the door if you don't perform or if the company is not profitable even if you are a high performer.

Culture shock is quite prevalent and in my experience it often takes vets a year or two to decompress and get used to the culture of civilian employers. I have not only recruited hundreds of vets but have employed hundreds as well. I would say my experience is pretty consistent with what I've heard from other employers and business owners.

Last thing is to have some realistic expectations. Unless you have an immediately transferrable skill, you are probably going to need some industry specific training or to start in an entry level role. I would never trust my balance sheet to someone who has never seen one before. Additionally, I am often amazed at the lack of situational awareness of some of the vets I have hired. The F bomb and foul language doesn't work in a corporate environment and especially around female employees. It gives us all a bad rep when vets come on the job and think everyone talks like we did in the Grunts.

It can be a tough transition if you have one foot constantly in the past. Be proud of your service and sacrifice and use the skills you acquired to out perform your civilian colleagues. That's how we get the respect we deserve and more vets hired!!!

For those of us who attend religious services regularly, I would equate being apart of this, the RP Family to that of being apart of your "Church Family".

Having like-minded folks to interact with, pick you up, engage you in meaningful conversation, and help you grow as a person and professional is invaluable.

its nice to have a spot where we all can go and state whats wrong and maybe get some anwsers that know one else can give us

There is nothing new I can add that hasn't already been said. Except perhaps, thank you.

It's nice to connect with new people and find old friends but honestly time will tell is if this becomes the Military LinkedIn. Civilian recruiters don't target this site, they scrape the other job broads.

Because, especially now that I am retired from the military, I can get all the non-military/civilian crap I want from the civilians who surround me. RP is one of the few places I can go where most of the members can relate to my viewpoint. We may not always agree, but at least my brothers- and sisters-in arms understand where I'm coming from. Plus, it is one of the only places I can give or get a dig on another vet or service member because of their branch or specialty and not worry about someone reporting me to HR.

I was thinking about this on the way to work today, and it struck me why the military flavor of RallyPoint is so important to me. When I retired, that was the end of CW5 Montgomery (active duty). I became CW5 (Ret) Montgomery. Kind of a drop in "status." Not that I'm all that in to status, but it definitely was a change. Now, here I am, still retired, but I get to interact with active duty personnel and retirees, and I am again (at least closer to) CW5 Montgomery.

I recognize that's a bit of a convoluted explanation. Also, as I think I posted before, RallyPoint is the virtual equivalent of a place where retirees hang out and reminisce, discuss current events, BS. It provides that venue for retirees to stay connected, even if it is "just" online, and that "place" is important.

I really enjoy some of the questions that people put out there and reading a lot of different views on any one topic. Most of us will never meet in life and to still be able to read and enjoy others experience and stories is great! I like seeing the different perspectives from folks from various branches and ranks.

Because you don't really have to explain anything to other Military members and the things you DO have to explain are usually things that cross over MOS and Branches. I like talking to other service members about things because we simply "get" each other. We have been through the same hardships and experiences for the most part and we are always learning from one another in things that we can't learn from a civilian. I love it!

Rally Point allows veterans and active duty military to discuss topics and get advice that otherwise would go unheard. This site allows veterans to stay connected and assists many with PTSD to cope with day to day challenges.