Posted on Mar 23, 2015
Thoughts on this article? I am all for getting a Vet discount but don't normally seek it out either, but I am confused about where the author stands...I also know he is on RP, so I hope he responds as well.
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion. Click below to see more on this topic.
My wife and I own a couple of Tropical Smoothie Cafes. As small business entrepreneurs, we take a lot of pride in providing 55 jobs while making pay roll every week, all self-financed as saved and scrimped for investment capital. As owners, we choose to offer a 10% discount to first responders and active duty/reserve military and guardsmen. Which is where I get to my rub.
Recently I had a military spouse grow irate with my cashier because we didn't offer a discount to military family members. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened. I guess I could stop offering any discount at all to the military, but would rather not. In this particular case, my cashier was on the receiving end of a very long tirade about how obviously unappreciative ownership must be of the sacrifices of the military family, she ended by stating "it would be in the owner's best interest" to offer discounts to families as well. I wish I was there to find out exactly what she meant beyond her vague threat.
Her response I believe had nothing to do with my veteran owned business being unappreciative of military families (we know firsthand about the hardships endured on the home front) but everything to do with the growing sense in our active and retired military community that as a corps they should be catered to because of their service. This is terribly misplaced and hurts civ-mil relations as well as sully our service to this great nation.
I get it, society is grateful for our military service and reasonably so. I also believe that society's overboard efforts to recognize military service is directly related to lasting guilt on how we treated returning Vietnam Vets. A shameful part of our history to be sure, but the big difference today is that we veterans all volunteered.
I'm a big fan of the All Volunteer Force and I loved my time in service. Combat was terrible and awesome and terrible and exhilarating. All my deployments were fantastic adventures, whether into combat zones or supporting foreign troops while in Special Forces. It was miserable at times to be sure and I was always glad to get home. Of which I immediately started looking forward to the next deployment or training. I've been retired 8 years and still miss that. As well as my brothers in arms.
We are fortunate in our society that we have tremendous citizens that pursue professions for our betterment. Teachers, police, firemen, doctors, nurses, scientists, social workers, civil servants, and yes military, all do our part to make our society a bit better while taking care of our citizens. All deserve admiration and thanks. It is time we recall that and quit creating a separate class of citizens.
So, I'm all for easing up on thanking veterans and uniformed personnel ad nausea, eliminating most veteran hiring preferences, and leadership stomping out the attitude that military/vets are better than others. Focus instead on fixing the VA, allowing business to hire best qualified without stigma, and taking care of our wounded warriors.
At the end of the day I'm a capitalist and fought to defend that system. I'll offer a discount to whomever I want, if you don't like it then patronize another establishment. If offered a discount as a retiree, I'll take it, although I'll never ask for one. At the end of the day I just find it embarrassing that military civilian relations are suffering for a myriad of reasons, but one is the attitude that civilians should have the military on a pedestal. Enough is enough.
Bring the troops home. Drink more Smoothies.
Recently I had a military spouse grow irate with my cashier because we didn't offer a discount to military family members. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened. I guess I could stop offering any discount at all to the military, but would rather not. In this particular case, my cashier was on the receiving end of a very long tirade about how obviously unappreciative ownership must be of the sacrifices of the military family, she ended by stating "it would be in the owner's best interest" to offer discounts to families as well. I wish I was there to find out exactly what she meant beyond her vague threat.
Her response I believe had nothing to do with my veteran owned business being unappreciative of military families (we know firsthand about the hardships endured on the home front) but everything to do with the growing sense in our active and retired military community that as a corps they should be catered to because of their service. This is terribly misplaced and hurts civ-mil relations as well as sully our service to this great nation.
I get it, society is grateful for our military service and reasonably so. I also believe that society's overboard efforts to recognize military service is directly related to lasting guilt on how we treated returning Vietnam Vets. A shameful part of our history to be sure, but the big difference today is that we veterans all volunteered.
I'm a big fan of the All Volunteer Force and I loved my time in service. Combat was terrible and awesome and terrible and exhilarating. All my deployments were fantastic adventures, whether into combat zones or supporting foreign troops while in Special Forces. It was miserable at times to be sure and I was always glad to get home. Of which I immediately started looking forward to the next deployment or training. I've been retired 8 years and still miss that. As well as my brothers in arms.
We are fortunate in our society that we have tremendous citizens that pursue professions for our betterment. Teachers, police, firemen, doctors, nurses, scientists, social workers, civil servants, and yes military, all do our part to make our society a bit better while taking care of our citizens. All deserve admiration and thanks. It is time we recall that and quit creating a separate class of citizens.
So, I'm all for easing up on thanking veterans and uniformed personnel ad nausea, eliminating most veteran hiring preferences, and leadership stomping out the attitude that military/vets are better than others. Focus instead on fixing the VA, allowing business to hire best qualified without stigma, and taking care of our wounded warriors.
At the end of the day I'm a capitalist and fought to defend that system. I'll offer a discount to whomever I want, if you don't like it then patronize another establishment. If offered a discount as a retiree, I'll take it, although I'll never ask for one. At the end of the day I just find it embarrassing that military civilian relations are suffering for a myriad of reasons, but one is the attitude that civilians should have the military on a pedestal. Enough is enough.
Bring the troops home. Drink more Smoothies.
Responses: 4
I can agree with most of the LTC's comments. "Respect by association"? The wife may be on to something, but the way she handled it was extremely wrong. I don't seek a discount and thank anyone who offers one.
His point about hiring a vet is off though. Our numbers look good when you look at them holistically. However, when you look at the demographics you see that the Iraq/Afghanistan era and the Vietnam and Korean War veterans unemployment is disproportionately higher than the national average. This is a factor in the suicide rate, IMO, and we do NOT need to let up on "hiring a vet" programs.
His point about hiring a vet is off though. Our numbers look good when you look at them holistically. However, when you look at the demographics you see that the Iraq/Afghanistan era and the Vietnam and Korean War veterans unemployment is disproportionately higher than the national average. This is a factor in the suicide rate, IMO, and we do NOT need to let up on "hiring a vet" programs.
I understand and do not expect to be treated as a hero or to get discounts at any business, ever. But when I hear this comment about a pedestal I become immediately concerned and a little put-off and I do not think I am better than anyone. Whomever feels the need to do that is off-base and self-centered but it is also a bit strange especially coming from a veteran.
Poo-pooing the Vietnam-Era is a big red flag for me and not for me so much, as those who died and their families and for the veterans abused in the media, by politicians and those who generally hate the Military Industrial Complex.
Poo-pooing the Vietnam-Era is a big red flag for me and not for me so much, as those who died and their families and for the veterans abused in the media, by politicians and those who generally hate the Military Industrial Complex.
Clearly that woman was the last straw on the camel's back for him. I never seek a veterans discount and if offered I normally decline it. I gained a lot more from my years in the service than I gave so I don't feel like I need discounts to help me out. I am not saying there is anything wrong with taking them.
I am not sure how that instance gets him all the way to the military being on a pedestal but to each his own. This isn't so much an editorial as it is a rant of someone pushed to the edge over a pretty insignificant issue.
I think the military is a unique in our society. The mission, the manner in which it must be done, the fact that it is all voluntary, the pay isn't great and many other reasons.
I am not sure how that instance gets him all the way to the military being on a pedestal but to each his own. This isn't so much an editorial as it is a rant of someone pushed to the edge over a pretty insignificant issue.
I think the military is a unique in our society. The mission, the manner in which it must be done, the fact that it is all voluntary, the pay isn't great and many other reasons.
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