RallyPoint

Overview and Mission

RallyPoint was founded in 2012 by two U.S. Army veterans, Yinon Weiss and Aaron Kletzing, at Harvard Business School. They recognized a need for a dedicated online platform where members of the U.S. military community could connect, support each other, and navigate their careers both during and after service.

Definition: RallyPoint defines itself as the premier digital platform specifically designed for the U.S. military community. It serves as a comprehensive online network combining professional networking with social connection tailored to the unique experiences and needs of service members, veterans, their families, and associated civilians.

Goals: The primary goal of RallyPoint is to help service members and veterans lead more successful and fulfilling lives. This is achieved by facilitating meaningful connections, providing access to relevant opportunities (career, educational, personal), and offering a supportive environment for discussion and information sharing related to military life and transition.

Core Features and Functionality

RallyPoint offers a range of features designed to serve its specific user base:

• Professional Networking: Users can build detailed professional profiles highlighting their military experience, skills, education, and career goals. They can connect with fellow service members, veterans across all branches, DoD civilians, and military-friendly employers.
• Career Services & Job Board: The platform features job postings specifically targeted towards veterans and service members, often from companies actively seeking military talent. It provides tools for career exploration and transition assistance.
• Discussion Forums: Members can engage in conversations on a wide variety of topics, from specific military occupational specialties (MOS/AFSC/Rating) and duty stations to military benefits, transition challenges, current events, and personal interests.
• Information Sharing: It serves as a hub for sharing advice, asking questions, and accessing information pertinent to military life, benefits (like the GI Bill), and transitioning to civilian life.
• Mentorship Opportunities: The platform structure facilitates informal and formal mentorship between junior and senior members or between those who have successfully transitioned and those currently in the process.

Unique Characteristics

• Exclusivity: RallyPoint's most distinctive feature is its dedicated focus on the U.S. military community. Membership is generally verified, creating a high-trust environment where users share a common background and understanding.
• Transition Focus: Significant emphasis is placed on supporting service members transitioning out of the military, offering resources, connections, and job opportunities tailored to this critical phase.
• Peer-to-Peer Support: The platform leverages the collective knowledge and experience of the entire military community, allowing members to get advice and support directly from peers who understand their situation.

Attracting Users: Key Advantages

RallyPoint attracts and retains users through several advantages:

• Targeted Networking: It offers unparalleled access to a network of individuals with shared military experience, which is invaluable for career advancement, mentorship, and support.
• Relevant Opportunities: Job postings and career resources are specifically curated for individuals with military backgrounds, increasing the likelihood of finding suitable employment with military-friendly organizations.
• Trusted Environment: The verification process and shared community ethos foster a sense of trust and camaraderie often missing on broader professional networking sites.
• Comprehensive Resource: It consolidates professional networking, job searching, discussion forums, and transition support into a single platform tailored for the military community.

Social Media Presence

RallyPoint maintains an active presence on several social media platforms:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RallyPoint/
• X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/rallypoint
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rallypoint/

Community and Connections

While not a formal arm of any specific government department, RallyPoint is intrinsically linked to the entire U.S. military ecosystem. It connects:

• Members across all branches of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force).
• Individuals of different statuses (Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Veterans, Retirees).
• Military family members (spouses, dependents).
• Department of Defense (DoD) civilians and contractors.
• Cadets and Midshipmen.
• Military recruiters.
• Military-friendly employers and veteran service organizations (VSOs).

Its primary connection is to the community it serves, facilitating interactions and opportunities within that network rather than acting as an official representative of a specific department.

Summary

RallyPoint stands as a vital online resource and community hub for America's military personnel, veterans, and their families. By combining professional networking tools, targeted career opportunities, and robust discussion forums within a trusted, exclusive environment, it effectively supports its members throughout their military careers and transitions into civilian life, fulfilling its mission to help them lead more successful and fulfilling lives.