Networking in the military is huge! I remember being a Fuels guy in the Air Force and when I was in need of some cold weather gear or something it was perfect to have a guy I knew in Supply. So many times as a Comm guy have I heard trade you for some cable, or hey what can I do to get another phone call to my wife. Either way, ALS, NCOA, and other avenues within the military has given me quite the edge over my peers through networking. Knowing people at bases I have been at or going to has always given me an easier time to find a home, my way around a new base, or just to have friends around the world that I can lean on and of course to be able to reciprocate.

Knowing someone in your branch is one of the best things to have but knowing someone in other branches can be a huge help as well. These days we don’t just have one branch on an installation. Air Force can be stationed on an Army installation or Marines can be embedded with the Navy. Either way with this site you should meet people from everywhere especially when the U.S. is becoming more of a joint force more than ever.

The last thing we need to remember is that this site is not just to meet a Colonel that will do you favors or a Chief that will get you out of trouble. This site is made to encourage people to talk and get better advice from those leaders and help us work together easier. Use this tool as something positive and not just a dirty trick (obviously some of this may happen, but that’s what the core values are for). We are a strong military and technology will make us even better.