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Earlier today I saw a discussion where a user who was an E5, I believe, basically told an O5 to leave them alone in a not so nice or respectful way. I'm still kind of new to RP so I don't know the whole situation. I'm not sure if either or both are retired. But I just wanted to get input from the general population here
Posted in these groups: 
Rank
RallyPoint
Rank RallyPoint
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 134
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Rank matters - not because anyone of higher or lower rank is any better or worse - or smarter or dumber - but because we signed up for this system that values a hierarchy of respect that goes both up AND down. When I comment back to someone higher ranking, I will usually use a "Sir" or "Ma'am" or address them by the rank and name - why? Because it's respectful, it's tradition, it's professional - they've earned the rank and respect that comes with it. Whether or not I respect them personally, or even professionally, is irrelevant. I respect the rank because I respect the values of the system that established that hierarchy.
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Col (Join to see)
SrA David Roby - Thank you for your service! As for rank on RallyPoint...it is the military that binds us. Your comment that you "achieved a much higher rank in life" is awesome. Your rank (currently active or inactive) is neither a reflection of who you were or who you have become. It is an identifier of how you earned the right to be in the RP community. No person should discount your comments simply because of your rank (or inflate mine because of my rank). All rank aside, my wife still tells me when I am wrong (in her opinion). It should also be so in this forum (with respect for all RP members).
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SSG Izzy Abbass
CinC Household will always win and if she's like my wife, her opinion will usually carry the day. Why I do think we transcend rank when we get out (there are a lot of junior enlisted who are CEOs and Senior Officers who are low level managers) there is always room for civility and respect between us all. We all earned it.
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MSG Monique Martin
The respect you show to others (or lack there of) is an immediate reflection on your self respect. I do not believe that rank determines if someone deserves respect on RP. I believe that if you are disrespectful on RP, others will see you for who you are, and will judge you accordingly.
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SSG Brad Kachurka
I look as this whole RallyPoint thing as an unofficial global watering hole where opinions are shared freely. A Majors opinion has no more relevance than a Private's. Can they disagree? Absolutely. Is disagreement disrespect? Absolutely not. Should a Prvate respect the Major's rank? Absolutely.
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First and foremost RP is a PEER Network.
Although much of our Military Identity was linked to our rank, and it is acknowledged on RP, we have to be able to communicate as equals. The PVT and the General are able to speak and disagree without fear of backlash from either side.
Yes, either side. I have seen senior officers worry that their comments were misconstrued. The written form does not convey "tone" or emotion as well as face to face communications, and leads to many more misunderstandings. Agreements and disagreements can be much more heated.
Now, rank itself is generally indicative of military experience, however since this site also have a very large veteran and retiree population, it is not indicative of OVERALL experience or knowledge. For many of us, our military experience, skills, and knowledge are a fraction of that total, therefore rank becomes so much less of an indicator.
But look at some of our mustangs (Enlisted who became Officers), and you'll see why rank in and of itself shouldn't matter. Just because someone is a Lt or a Capt doesn't mean they don't have a wealth of knowledge as an Enlisted for a dozen years before that. Folks like SGM (Join to see) who dual hatted SGM/CPT or CPT (Join to see), among other countless examples.
Although much of our Military Identity was linked to our rank, and it is acknowledged on RP, we have to be able to communicate as equals. The PVT and the General are able to speak and disagree without fear of backlash from either side.
Yes, either side. I have seen senior officers worry that their comments were misconstrued. The written form does not convey "tone" or emotion as well as face to face communications, and leads to many more misunderstandings. Agreements and disagreements can be much more heated.
Now, rank itself is generally indicative of military experience, however since this site also have a very large veteran and retiree population, it is not indicative of OVERALL experience or knowledge. For many of us, our military experience, skills, and knowledge are a fraction of that total, therefore rank becomes so much less of an indicator.
But look at some of our mustangs (Enlisted who became Officers), and you'll see why rank in and of itself shouldn't matter. Just because someone is a Lt or a Capt doesn't mean they don't have a wealth of knowledge as an Enlisted for a dozen years before that. Folks like SGM (Join to see) who dual hatted SGM/CPT or CPT (Join to see), among other countless examples.
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Suspended Profile
Yes, but you can still be subject to UCMJ by things you say and write on social media networks so keep that in mind...
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SFC Corey Pitt For those still in service, yes. And as many others have said, we should always remain respectful in our discourse, and that is covered in the Terms of Use (RP) as well.
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CPT Bill Murphy
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS Good points all. And by the way, anyone on RP is welcome to call me Bill—or even better, "Murph," which has been my nickname since I was about 6. I seem to answer to that more quickly anyway. That's how my wife gets my attention in crowds.
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I have mentioned several times in other similar discussions that we need to respect our brothers and sisters in arms, no matter what their rank is. If we are truly the professionals that we all claim that we are and that I know we are then we need to be respectful in all of our dialogue on RP. I love the input and insight that I receive from the privates’ right up through the general officers. Let's have fun, enjoy the discussions, and be respectful at all times. I think that is a winning ingredient to a very successful RP
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PO2 Bernard Burney
COL Mike, I totally agree. RP is a unique site where everyone brings valuable information. There is something to learn from each individual regardless of one's rank.
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PO2 Russell Houston
As a veteran E-5 I expect respect of an O-5, why should he not expect the same of me?
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