Have you ever used your military status or affiliation to your benefit?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:16:07 -0500

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Nov 7 at 2016 8:17 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:17:41 -0500

Helped me keep the lights on for the past 32 years.....gonna go with yes

Response by PO3 Ricky Foster made Nov 7 at 2016 8:17 PM

PO3 Ricky Foster — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:17:49 -0500

I once ate at Golden Corral(for free) on Veterans day and once was bought a cup of coffee for my service, that is about it.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 7 at 2016 8:18 PM

SFC George Smith — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:18:42 -0500

GI Bill Loan ... Up grades in Seats on airlines when offered ... and Breakfast and dinner specials at IHOP...

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 7 at 2016 8:20 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:20:51 -0500

Sure. Half the certs needed for an MMD I got from my time in the Navy. Last year a friend who owns a pizza franchise called me up out of the blue on Veteran's day and told me he was sending a delivery person with a free pizza. It was a nice surprise, made even better when I tipped the kid roughly the cost of the pizza (20).

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 7 at 2016 8:28 PM

SPC Phil Norton — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:28:14 -0500

Well I am a disabled veteran so yea and I always ask if there is a military discount before I pay many places have great discounts they just don't advertise it

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 7 at 2016 8:47 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:47:47 -0500

Yes via USAA membership but thats about it.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Nov 7 at 2016 8:48 PM

Col Dona Marie Iversen — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:48:47 -0500

Discounts at Home Depot & Lowes

Response by SPC Miles Blackman made Nov 7 at 2016 9:03 PM

SPC Miles Blackman — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 21:03:35 -0500

Only since I became disabled, before that no, I was able to work.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 10:27 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 22:27:38 -0500

I have absolutely no problem asking if a business has a military discount. In my early days I didn't, I felt embarrassed to ask. But now I'm like why not, I've served my country honorably.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 10:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 22:39:41 -0500

back when we had base stickers on our POV a cop or three might have given me a break for speeding. Once or twice.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Nov 7 at 2016 11:10 PM

LTC John Mohor — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 23:10:02 -0500

When I bought my first home 100% financing with the GI Bill Home Loan. Discounts at Home Depot and Lowes and a Free Drivers Licence for Life while living in Georgia.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Nov 7 at 2016 11:28 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 23:28:07 -0500

My retail discounts save me a thousand a year. My status as the widower of a deceased veteran saves me three grand in property tax yearly. My enlisted schooling, experience, and rank gave me college credit worth over a year, maybe two, saving me unknown thousands. My ID card gets me out of speeding tickets (sorry 'bout that--but in all fairness, my ex-wife used the buttons on her shirt for the same reason). :)

But I haven't mentioned the non-monetary benefits. The military did something to my attitude and confidence and the way I am accepted by others. I once got myself on a committee to prepare the city for the Olympics simply by walking in, taking a front seat, and expressing my interest. That happens a lot. So I get to help my community.

During 20 years, I got to visit so many places around the world that when we go to the movies, I can very often point at a scene and say "Been there!" That is the greatest military benefit of all to me.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 7 at 2016 11:55 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 23:55:34 -0500

Lowes offers a discount to military personnel, active or retired. I take it every time.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Nov 8 at 2016 5:53 AM

PO3 David Fries — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:53:29 -0500

I have never asked for a military discount. I have never eaten a Veterans Day meal. I (stupidly) did not use my GI bill benefits. I haven't gotten a VA loan. I do plan on taking advantage of the CT veteran tuition write off when I get the things I need for going for my Paramedic.

Response by 1SG John Baize made Nov 8 at 2016 8:31 AM

1SG John Baize — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:31:45 -0500

Yes, but one that I will always remember: I live in Germany. The first time that I returned to the states with my German wife, had to go thru customs. There were two lines, one for citizens and one for non-citizens. The latter was a mile long and there were three people in the former. I had my paassport and retiree ID card out and visible. A Customs Agent came over to me and asked me why I was standing way in the back. I explained our situation (citizen and non-citizen). She said, "Follow me.". She took us to an empty gate and processed us both thru and said, "Thank you for your service."

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 8 at 2016 9:04 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 09:04:06 -0500

I used a VA loan after I retired but that is about it.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 8 at 2016 10:49 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:49:54 -0500

Yes. From the travel opportunities while overseas, to the GI Bill, to the relatively inexpensive Disneyland passes at MWR (was a real saver for a family of 5), to the occasional discounts at Lowe's, IHOP and the mom and pop diner i frequent.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2016 10:58 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:58:53 -0500

Hi, PO2 Martin.

The VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program paid for college, and I just got a VA home loan. Those are the to big uses. I've had people anonymously buy my lunch.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 8 at 2016 11:51 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:51:22 -0500

Purposefully, no. But I have received a military discount here or there when someone happened to see my ID card or they noticed my wallet. I have a digital cammie wallet, 1 woodland, 1 desert. I used to swap them out with the uniform change.

Though I was thinking of actually going out this Veteran's Day for a change. Chipotle is having a Buy One, Get One offer I was thinking of taking advantage of. Been awhile since I've eaten there.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 8 at 2016 12:00 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 12:00:14 -0500

Lot's of folk talk about discounts, etc. for military. The stores have different discounts for different folk., e.g. seniors. We have a hardware store here with military discount, Wednesdays only. Go figure. So the pretty much MIL only things are the freebies on Veterans and Memorial day. Olive Garden, IHop and others do a free meal. So long as their bottom line is helped by advertising "We support the 1.4%" I'd expect it to continue. In military towns, so much of the economy exists because they're there. I do remember when the anti MIL 'Nam sentiment was so strong, there were no MIL discounts and you'd be shamed at a minimum if you asked for one.

Response by Cpl Jerry Millar made Nov 8 at 2016 12:15 PM

Cpl Jerry Millar — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 12:15:22 -0500

As a former gahw-dong-stinkin(hello)bag-nasty reservist... no, not really :-P
But in all seriousness, I did use the VA to buy/refi a home.

I also consider associating myself with the U.S. military as veteran as a MAJOR benefit in itself though!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2016 1:15 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 01:15:14 -0500

I've taken advantage of military discounts and deals.

That said I don't feel the need to get angry at businesses that don't have it. I ask and if they have it great I saved a few bucks, if they don't oh well no harm in asking.

Edit....

I think I got out of a ticket because I was in uniform at the time.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Nov 9 at 2016 11:47 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:47:27 -0500

To be honest yes, I use the veterans discounts when and where offered, the VA and the prescription med mailing program. I also apply for the veterans considerations and points when applying for government jobs. These are all nice things that folks do for service members and veterans and are appreciated.

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Nov 10 at 2016 12:05 AM

SSG Mark Franzen — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 00:05:11 -0500

Yes But I have now My Local HOME DEPOT Doesn't Give Out Discounts Only For Active Duty and Retired. So My veteran status means Nothing to them. I hope that they Come out with a Id Card with your Name RANK AND DATES OF SERVICE AND BRANCH.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2016 2:08 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 14:08:50 -0500

Home Depot, especially since I have been keeping them in business for the last 7 years while remodeling a house.