I remember the first time I heard of a military discount. “Are you military?” the little clerk folding clothes into my bag at the store asked. “Yes,” I said. “If you show me your ID I can give you our 10 percent military discount.”
Mind blown. A discount? Just for being a military family member? Heck yes!
It never even dawned on me not to say “yes” to these wonderful treats. I quickly learned to start asking at stores if they had one. I figured it never hurts to ask. And that 8 or 10 percent off is just a little way that I knew businesses in America hadn’t forgotten that my husband was out there fighting for their right to sell stuff. Three cheers for capitalism.
It wasn’t until last year that I realized that some spouses not only aren’t comfortable with asking if a store has the discount, but they say “no thanks” when it is offered. They say the discount isn’t really for or about them – it’s for and about actual servicemembers.
I can see where they are coming from. Perhaps they think that even a discount may potentially give off a sense of entitlement – something I have no intention of communicating. Or, maybe they think “I didn’t serve – no need to thank me.”
And then there are the people far on the other side – those who love discounts so much that they wait until a discount and military freebie heavy day, like Veterans Day, and strike while the iron is hot. In honor of the day at least 18 chain restaurants offered free meals to anyone with a military ID, while many retail stores offered additional discounts. Everything from shoes to mattresses is discounted. Some people love these so much that they go, in my opinion, way overboard. I’ve even heard of people ordering the free food as takeout, hauling it home and freezing it for later.
In my personal opinion, using the discount as spouse that a store already offers (or politely asking if they have one – and, if so, taking advantage of it) does not cross a line. If the discount was only meant for the servicemember and not his dependents, they would not accept dependent IDs. Just like when someone finds out I’m a military spouse and says “thank you for your sacrifice,” I politely respond “you’re welcome” – the discounts are meant as a sign of thanks.
What do you think?
About Amy Bushatz
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Considering that my husband is the one who works and everything I buy is with the money he made, I don't see an issue with accepting a military discount at a store. Just because I'm the one at the store buying wood flooring for our home doesn't make the purchase any different than when he goes to buy the same wood flooring for our home.
I must reply on behalf of my wife of 32 yrs who sacrificed along with me in my twenty years service to Country. This Saint endured just as much if not more than I can possible imagine. When I look back to the 1970's when we met & married I don't know how we did what we did on my pay! This woman managed a household with two children and still worked outside of the home. And doing this as an immigrant service members wife (South Korea). Although separated, at times for years, this woman kept us all together. She moved our household when I was not available to assist, attended school activities when I was away, and a multitude of other things. I believe she, as well as myself, deserves a Military discount at every opportunity she can. And almost twenty years removed from service (US Army) she still sacrifices. YES….All family members deserve this discount!
I am sorry I am not sure if I am doing this correctly but here it goes.
We run a small lodge in Big Bear Lake Ca. and we offer all Military and their Families a 15 % discount year around . Show proper ID and you receive the discount. My problem is that other lodges I have talked to tell me ‘Oh NO ‘ don’t give the discount on holidays .
Their reason is as follows” That is when you make money NO Discounts !
Blue Horizon Lodge Reason:
Just because it is a time to make money does NOT make it right to take away the discount ! So what you may lose any where from $75 up – But have you every stopped to look at the faces of the families whose family member is coming home or leaving .. They will remember you did that for them maybe not your name but the will remember that time spent together .
It is just not our direct military that is serving but also their families . So big deal lose a few dollars for someone else’s memory . Not only that they will refer others to you , so what have you lost Nothing .. What have you gained Everything …
My family has served in one branch or another for over 200 yrs.until my children …I also try when any Military Families come to make sure to ask if the would like a care package ( I receive some free items and don’t mind giving it to them. Money is tight when serving , any discount should be given. But like everything else in life no one should be greedy
Sharon
Blue Horizon Lodge
Big Bear Lake, Ca
As a Navy Wife and Mother of 4, I thank you and others who offer discounts. I don't expect a discount but I'm very thankful when one is given. I make sure to tell the business that I appreciate it. I'm more likely to visit that establishment again because of the kindness. I also make sure that I give back to my community too by volunteering and doing for others. I try to always pay forward by donating items we don't need anymore instead of having a garage sale. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Thank you for recognizing what's important to our service members and families – time together and tight budgets. If we are ever in your neighborhood we will be sure to look up Blue Horizon Lodge, for I appreciate your goodwill!
WOW… how refreshing to hear this from a business person. Thank you for being so kind, generous, gracious, and grateful for a military families sacrifice. It is always nice to get a break from the high cost of doing anything away from home. I second what some one else wrote… if ever we're in town, we will do business with you instead! My husband, (the active duty member), feels weird getting a discount or asking for one, but I am trying to break him out of his shell 'cause it's hard to make ends meet on one income with 3 kids.
There is no reason why a dependent wife should not take advantage of the discount. As a retiree, my wife uses the discounts if offered by a business. While I was deployed, she was the family financial manager, chauffer for our son to his games, nurse to our kids when they got sick or hurt, disciplanarian when she was called by the schools.
That's how I feel about it, If I'm buying for the family I feel it's alright to take because It's for him I'm just the one out getting it for him. When I go out alone I never ask though.
I agree. My husband may be the one doing the "real work", but I'm the one buying him clothes, food and everything else. If they want the discount to only go to servicemembers, then they'll say so. Otherwise, we all are making sacrifices on this journey. For me, it's not living near a good mall, ahem…
P.S. Amy, you rock! :)
I totally agree. I usually forget to ask and am thankful when stores make me aware of a mil discount. I don't think it means more if my husband pays or not. All the savings go back to us and the home we share together. Were a family unit after all. I don't like when people freak out about there not being a discount somewhere or thinking its not enough somehow. I feel like those people ruin it for all of us.
I was a milspouse before I became a dual mil family, and I had no issues either way with accepting a discount. I always asked, never complained. Like many have said, that military income is supporting the family and as a spouse you're typically shopping for the family's needs or working within the family budget. Like you said, if they didn't intend for it to be for dependents, they'd only accept CACs.
From the other side of it, if the stores include dependents AND they can afford to give the discount, then I think we should accept the discount.
I believe too if you are buying lets say a pair of 4 inch heels and a slew of nail polish, no matter how pretty it makes you look to your servicemember, I'm convinced taking the discount is not in the spirit it was intended!
I am not a service member, nor are either of my parents. Two of my three uncles served, my grandfather (on my dad's side) was discharged due to pore vision, and both of my mom's parents served. My little sister married a "Military brat" (their words not mine), and I have a nephew in law that is currently serving. And many friends that have served or are serving.
My sisters mother in law buys diapers at the PX for her grand children.
My niece is a single mom as her husband is overseas. Her sacrifice is tangible she may not be in harms way but she willingly gave her husband to the service of our country. And if she wants to use a offered discount to buy 4 inch heels I'm fine with that, I'm fine with if she uses a discount to buy yarn to make goods and sell them. (I do not know if she does these things but I am okay with it)
I think anything I can do to make the life of a service members family better I am for. I would rather shop at a place the offers a discount to military families then one that does not.
LL I get what you are saying. I however think that if the spouse is buying something they would buy anyway and it is for personal use there should not be a problem. It is helping the family and I think that is the intent of the discount.
I will say that I think it is wrong if they buy the heels with a discount to sell on Ebay or something like that. That is taking advantage of the offer.
BIG TIME DISAGREE!!! Only the White and Blue I.D Cards should get the discount. Just because you are a spouse doesn't afford you the right for a discount % at a business for MILITARY, YOU ARE A CIVILIAN. Spuses really PISS me off, they all try to live thru the RANK of there spouse. BS!! That's like saying If I was a GS employee for either 1 day or 29 yrs on the job with "zero" military service I should have the benefit to shop at the commissary, get gas…ect
So, after my husband has worked a 14 hour day, he should do all the shopping for himself and our household so that he can get a discount. It's alot easier to send me to purchase things with his money and to obtain the discount that is offered. That way he has some free time to relax and do things he would like to do.
Go to the BX, you don't need a discount on shoes at pennys.
Aarty. You must not visit AAFES; the major inventory items are on racks filled with GORDO SIZES, they do not go for FASHION. And as for "shoes?" Not to mention Lancome or the more up-scale cosmetics, nor hours of operation, nor any particular concern with management of inventory; the mantra is "tax savings" and not "dollar/benefit" as previously in their penchant for PASSPORT clothing that is inferior to discount houses on the economy. And this issue boasts they are a major employer of military spouses? As one having shopped monthly at AAFES for years, the personnel are top notch; likely pay is below market, and on top of that, they are the gracious recipients of "consumer complaints;" "management" of AAFES is an oxymoron! The standard response is something like "we didn't know you were coming;" why didn't you phone to request the normal and ordinary purchases items, like those of the managed inventory of all retail and supermarkets!
Most wives do NOT try to take advantage of their husband's rank. And you're right, we don't serve in the same sense as our spouse, but we sacrifice a hell of a lot, too.
The Spouses are the ones that stay home when the other is deployed. They should get a discount. Maybe if you were in their place you would understand. Both husband and wife are in the military, my son-in-law is in the Air Force and works long shifts and my daughter must shop for the family. Do you think the duty spouse has time to do all the shopping? NO, you need to learn what is going on before you open your big mouth. Also they do not get paid enough to do what they do and put up with the moving they have to do to do their jobs. They use to have the BX or PX which gave them a break in he price but no more the prices are about the same as in the Civilian stores.
Obviously, you aren’t married. If you are try telling that to you your partner. I would hope they’d leave. Obviously, you don’t appreciate their sacrifice.
Curtis, either you are a grammatically challenged internet troll, or your perspective is of ignorance. If you were in the military and had a civilian spouse that you loved and could recognize her sacrifice along with yours, your opinion would change. Or… if you were a spouse of a military member, you would feel differently. I know you disagree with my comment (If you understand it), but that's ok. Like I said, ignorant perspective.
Troll.
Its a marketing tool. They don't care about the military member. If you're overseas you get gas and all the other stuff if you're sent there as a civilian employee. You also get the benefits in certain very remote US locations. I was at a place that had nearest off base anything was a 40 mile drive. And I spent a lot of days as a civilian where I never saw the sun come up or set.
When you work for Walmart or other Retail businesses, they give you a discount card for the employee and their spouse & children to use. Is that spouse living through some unseen "rank" ? Big businesses offer discounts as a Marketing tool for loyalty. When you are a happy consumer you will tell at least 10 friends about the great services/goods that you received. If you're unhappy you will tell even more people how unhappy you are. You can look at it in a negative way or a positive way.
Must be single. The miltary wife is just as much needed as are people who whine because you are self centered. I hope someday you get married and see just how they are needed. GET A LIFE.
I understand what you're saying Curtis, and to a point I agree with you. After 10 yrs Marine Corps infantry (yes, married during last enlistment and tour in Iraq) I still shake my head at some of the things I hear. We signed up for this,it's our job and if you married into it you either accepted the life or were ignorant to its meaning. I knew that I would be deployed a minimum of 6 months at least every 18 months or possibly more frequently, then of course the obvious potential of not returning. My wife and daughter never expected anything and never even bothered to drive to the base to get an ID. If your spouse was a trauma surgeon that saves lives daily and works crazy hours, would you ask for a hospital ID? They probably see more devastation and family strife over a career than most military perso ever will. yes they are compensated well but they put a lot in to get to that level. We chose a different path and shouldn't expect to be treated differently. So if you see a guy with kids bouncing on his lap at Shamu stadium and his wife is prodding him to stand(as usual) when they ask Vets to rise, the reason is he knows what he did and thats enough for him, it was our job.
Obviously you don't understand the benefits of military service either LavCommander. On a whole other level, 10 years and you're out? You also didn't communicate to your family the importance of having a military ID, and should be ashamed that you didn't take at least your daughter to get one. That ID opens their world to many services that are helpful to ANY military family, regardless of their situation, income, etc.
No one is asking to be treated differently, as Amy stated, she did not want to communicate a sense of entitlement. Maybe your wife had a well paying job and the cost of outside health insurance didn't affect your family, maybe you didn't want to make the military a career and reap the benefits of retirement and healthcare, but that is not the situation of every other military family.
Most of the time the discount takes care or primarily the sales tax, it's not like we're getting items for free or walking into stores begging for a military discount. Many military spouses are very savvy and know what stores offer what discounts. Since you do have 10 years of service, you do understand what the military pay scales are like, and sadly, that 10% to 15% discount could mean dinner for another night for some families.
Military spouses serve in an entire different way, and it's unfortunate that you didn't appreciate your wife enough to share your benefits with her.
Very well stated. With one exception implied, of course. That "Military ID" is also the authorization for health care; somehow with a lot of other deadlines as professional licensing and driver license renewal, that for my "Military ID" just slipped by until the AP at the gate noticed it was EXPIRED and on a Saturday. Suddenly commuting home WITHOUT PROTECTION should fate cascade with involvement in a auto accident. How many times do we pass accident scenes and wonder as to the extent of injuries to those involved; the frequent emergency nature of care, and extent of, and the full spectrum of protection beneath that MILITARY ID, the EARNED ENTITLEMENTS.
I am seeing many more stores, hotels, and other retail and service facilities that offer a military discount that are starting to offer "service" discounts which includes Firefighters, Policemen, Emergency Responders and a few other civilian careers which place the employee in danger just as much as the military. I salute these companies! And yes, I am a former Marine married to a retired Marine and we utizilie military discounts and always say "thank you" to the merchant as well as tell all our friends what a great company such-and-such is for being military- (or service-) friendly to refer more business to them.
So, if they never got a ID then that means they had no health care?? As we all know, that is a big "benefit" for the military and if they didn't want to accept anything "free" then they should have received that and have paid out of pocket for theirs. I have no problems accepting a Military discount. My husband is either out to sea or working all day to go shopping. If they only wanted the service members to get a discount then they would say it. They offer discounts for a reason.
I would have to disagree with you Curtis!! We as Family Members – Especially Wives, are the ones who are sitting at home,holding down the home, sending the kids to school, paying all the bills, worrying about our husbands… Why should we not use the “Military Discount”? We earned it right along with our husbands! Especially if we were with them their entire 10-20 year career… If you have not been in the Military or a Spouse, then you really do not know what it is like to go through a deployment, let alone a Combat Deployment, or the stresses, the not knowing… Being both parents full time, working full time, going to school full time, volunteering full time for your spouses Unit, and doing all the things to keep the house in order (to include cooking, cleaning, kids homework, paying bills, sending care packages)… I think we as Military Spouses who support our Service Members deserve the Discount as well…
Excuse me Curtis!!!!! Many of our Military spouses have sacrifice alot by having our husbands deployed. We are left to care for our children. Run the household, worry when our car breaks down. Most important of all is worrying so much if our husband will return. Yes we are deserving of any military discount. My husband served 22 1/2 years in the military & died with cancer while serving. He died at 40 years old on his birthday. Am I deserving of any military discount. " You damn right" I appreciate everything the military has done to help me & others.
Your an idiot. Guess what I am a retired and Service Connected 100% United States Navy disabled Veteran… and my I.D. color is TAN not white, not pink, not blue. Wives and families go through just as much stress and tough times as we do on duty. You obviously have no clue what any of it is even about since you also seem to not know what you are talking about when it comes to ID cards. Go crawl back in your hole and don't bother coming back until you are man enough to serve your country and earn the right to talk to any of us.
Well Curtis, all I have to say is shame on you. My husband spent over 20 years in the Army and during that time he was gone more than he was home. I raised my daughter almost entirely by myself and that was back when no one gave discounts. I sure could have used them. There were many nights we only had mac and cheese for supper because we only got paid once a month. Try budgetting for 30 or 31 days on a military pay check! Most refrig's did not have enough freezer space and purchasing a freezer then was out of the realm of my budget. I learned to become quite self sufficient, but it was out of necessity not because I wanted to. I say if they can get a discount, Go for It! Wish we had them back when my husband was serving!
Its for the benefit of the family of the service member, they are not always in a position to purchase something they need, so let the spouse purchase with a discount.
Just a dumb statement, you have issues.
Well I think that a spouse should be able to get the discount. Think about it I'm a military service member and I have been for eight yrs. My wife will be getting things for our house and our kids. She doesn't take advantage or anything just things that we need. So I find it ok for her to use and as a GS employee I can agree with you on that. Your right if work for the government then you should be allowed as well to get the discount. Some places offer then and some don't. Our spouses have to live up to our rank since what ever actions they do reflect on us as the military service member. My wife may be a civilian but she does have to deal with my depoyments and having the kids to take care of. So in my eyes she's married into the military and has every right to the discount. So one favor please stop being so negative if spouse to any military branch have to endour long deployments with out there love ones.
Well .. thank you for "weighing in," otherwise no one would believe that are those with those attitudes that were ever allowed in THE MILITARY, which has always honored "spouses" as those "non-volunteers" contributing so much to their active duty spouses and their missions; like who "baby sits" when active duty are deployed. "Spuses" PISS you off, eh? "They all try to live thru the RANK of there spouse." Really? Do they perhaps contribute to the career performance of THEIR spouses who can concentrate on the mission and not worry about welfare of families in their otherwise dedicated "missions" not of their chosing? BS? A GS UNION PROTECTED "EMPLOYEE?" You equivacate that to the demanding rigor of Military Service within any branch of THE ARMED FORCES? And you imply they should participate in "Military Entitlements?"
Actually a Postscript to the above: Curtis. Your thesis is laughable. War and Peace? Wull .. were there UNIONS, there would be dedicated "work hours," "lunch hours," "specified break time," and "living wages" at "OVERTIME." Not to mention "comfort zones" of bedding, food, air conditioning/heat. Consider those complications of "duty" and "effectiveness" of "battle" on real turf of "combat zones." Again, thanks for sharing there are dolts as yourself.
Curtis:
Not all of us military spouses live through their rank, i don't. But i do take discounts because my husband and I are ONE! Our family is ONE! When he is deployed, I have a lot to deal with, as he does. I am not living through him at all. When i get a discount, it makes my husband happy because that saves us money, not just me. He feels appreciated when either of us gets one.
Did your spouse leave you and take some benefits with her? Tis the season to be jolly and you sound so very bitter. I truly hope you can find some happiness in your life before it's too late. I am for the spouse taking the discount and I am speaking up as a widow of a 21 year Vietnam veteran. My husband recognized my contribution to making his home life easier and would encourage me to take advantage of all military discounts offered to me.
Get over it… You really do have some deep issues… Where do you get your comparison from….You just a DUMMY
Wow Curtis. Seems like you just cut your leg and jumped in a shark tank. Anyhoo. Some places offer their discounts only to the Service Member, others choose to extend that discount to the spouse and their kids. Until you walk a mile in the shoes of a dependent, giving your life to the employer of your spouse, then perhaps you should not give your uneducated opinion.
You are SO WRONG! that is why the dependent card gives the dependent SPOUSE be it wife OR husband the right to shop in the commissary, use the exchange as well as the medical facility on base. In the eyes of the military the entire family is serving and deserves the use of ANY AND ALL BENEFITS and that includes any discounts that outside businesses might wish to extend.
In my case, my husband gave his life for this country of ours. I am not "pissed" as you have put it, that people like you exist, or that you might actually hold a military ID card in YOUR hand. But, after my sacrifice, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be using one either.
You deserve the discount, Thank you for making it possible for him to serve. A happy home makes for a focused service person.
absolutely, the spouse is more then likely buying for the military spouse ,so it ultimately goes to him/her ,that's the way it should be !!! and it's not like the military are getting paid millions !!!
Military spouses most certainly deserve every bit of discount offered to them! Families sacrifice, too. Spouses pick up and move the entire house multiple times, take care of birthdays, Christmases, doctor's appointments, conferences, illnesses, being there emotionally for the children when mom or dad leaves for an entire year, and when mom or dad comes back from war and has their own slew of emotional issues that can include massive cases of PTSD. This is all while trying to be strong enough themselves because they have the sole responsibility of doing all these things. Yes. Military spouses deserve those discounts. They sacrifice, too.
Military spouses put up with a lot of crap. Family separation is hard on everyone. My wife cared for my children while I was doing 6 deployments, 6 field exercises and multiple schools. All spouses don't pretend to have rank. I've only noticed that among the officer wives. Spouses sacrifice also. Give them the discount. They earned it.
I agree with you, Eddie. My mom was an Army Wife for the first 20 years of marraige. Then, she sent her twins off to serve as well. She took everything the Army threw at her and always landed on her feet. Praise God for that. She raised 3 boys, finished college, ran a in-home state licensed day care in 2 different states, and PCS'd overseas all by herself. Dad was gone for various reasons for more than 30 percent of my formative years…and that was without deployment to an active war zone.
I also agree with your comment about he O's wives being the ones that primarily used their husband's rank to justify themselves. Mrs. Clark was the exception to that. She did her husband proud(Gen Wes. Clark).
Those establishments that are offering the Mil. discounts know that the service members often can't physically be there to use the discount, and allow the dependants to use them. The ones that only let the member use it are only jumping on the bandwagon to claim that they offer discounts to Military too.
Your spouse was not issued in your seabag. If he/she did not want the ardouis life of the military they could have said no to the I do. They are not military…just camp followers. Also, look at the E7/8/9 wives they are as bad as the senior "O" wives.
Not a camp follower. I am a spouse of a service member. I am a scientist and engineer. I am one of those people that does the research and produces the technology that keeps you guys and gals safe down range.
This respect thing goes two ways and if you are going to give any then you don't deserve any.
Excuse me I am an E-8 wife and I never put on airs and think I am better than anyone else, I know a lot of Officer wives that are the same. There are some snobby spouses I agree, but you cannot generalize like that.
From a damn good "Camp Follower"
Being a veteran and now a dependent spouse, I think I can speak on this issue with a unique perspective. Military discount should be offered and accepted by military spouses. These discounts are meant to help the military family, not just the military member themselves. As has been pointed out many times already the spouse is the one who is most likely to be doing the shopping for the family because often the military member is unavailable to do so. Even if the Active duty member is at home, their schedules are rarely flexible enough to allow for the majority of household tasks, not to say some don't manage exceptionally well when needed (single parents, etc.), and therefore spouses often take on the majority of household purchasing. These discounts are an effort of local businesses to honor Military and ease the burden of financing a household on pay that is not equivalent to the civilian pay scale. I support all military spouses in taking discounts when offered and asking if one is available if not offered. Thank you to all our Service members, past and present, and their families who sacrifice right along with them.
Totally agree. I mostly use it at Home Depot and the like to help me repair the house so we can sell it when it is time to PCS. In this down market, the house needs to be perfect to be sold.
I completely agree. I was in the Military. Now I am a Military Spouse, I do the shopping, he doesn't have the time to Serve this Country and shop too!
I am retire d Army and feel that if a spouse should be allowed the same benifit the the spouse. Rememmber they hae to sacrifice almost as much as the service menber. It may not be in combat but they sacrifice also to support them no matter what. Those who are against this should join the military and see just how hard it is on them. My wife was with me for 20 years of the 21 I served. I was married in 1970 and went to Vietnam for year . She has never once complined about me me gone. When i went to Germany the first time she had to fly over there with three kids between 5 month and 4 years old and to she and all spouse's think it's easy try it. Better yet join and see why they earned the discounts. Don't bitch untll you walked in there shoes.
I just retired and I think the dependent spouses deserve the same if not more for their,often thankless, job they do. Couldn't have been as successful without her.
I would be upset if she did not.
I can't believe this is even a question. A spouse is the military, they suffer every day along side their husbands and wives. This question is a product of the liberals who have never given anthing.
You are doing nothing wrong – the stores give the discounts as it generates a lot of repeat traffic. Free markets and commerce are wonderful things!
As a service member I agree that military spouses should be allowed the discounts and thanks that their respective husbands or wives recieve in uniform. For one when we are married we are 1 family not 2 persons per se and my spouse represents me and I her, but more importantly without my wife doing "her service" for our family and others, I can't do my service for our country, so even though she is not "under oath to defend the Constitution" she is still a service member in my book and should recieve the same respect, recognition, and thanks as a uniformed member……Just my 2 cents.
I think it is up to the retailer who they offer the discount to, if they extend it to spouses then fine take it but if they only offer it to the actual service member that is up to them.
As far as this "we deserve it because of all our "sacrifices" "stuff there are still plenty of service members that based on "NEC/MOS/AFSC work pretty much 9-5 jobs, never deploy, and with "homesteading" becoming more popular because it "saves money " can go 20 years with out ever moving.
Also check the 2013 pay charts, where else can a high school grad who got C's to D's after 4 years on the job be making 50 to 60K, with free medical, getting,, if you work it right 6 weeks of vacation, a 3 or even four day "weekend" almost every month, a pension that you pay nothing into AND have a 401K (TSP) and the governement will buy you a house, let you write off the mortgage interest against your taxable income, interest you paid with tax free money (BAH) all in a job where you really have to work at it to "get fired".
Dale, I guess you need to enlist and "Swear to defend your country" every four years since you think the military is so rewarding. You civilains have not a clue as to the sacrifices we make for you and your freedom. Try living in a sub for 6 months not seeing the light of day the whole time. It goes on and on – you are pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was enlisted twice and I agree with Dale. Quit being a troll and actually argue a point if you disagree.
Well for your information D.J. I do NOT "need to enlist" I DID that 4 times for 22 years.
I have plenty of "clues"
When is the last time a sub deployed for 6 months and was submerged the entire time?
I have two brother in laws IE guys maried to my sisters, both recently retired, one a B-1-B pilot, he spent 24 years at Ellsworth, never transferred, never "deployed" in the traditional sense, bombing missions to Iraq and Afghanistan with maybe a one night lay over "on the way home." was never away from home other than going to the occasional school for more than a week. owns a million plus house that the government paid for with 20 plus years of BAH. the other a B-52 pilot who spent 26 years at Barksdale, same thing.
Plenty more like that out there.
Uh … the flowing degree of ignorance as to your topic has this particular contributor questioning how is it you are on this site to begin with? A "high school grad" may well benefit from the opportunties to upgrade personally and professionally; but officers are required to hold at least a Baccalaureate Degree; there are numerous options to progress through various sources of educational qualifications. Furthermore, the caliber of resources of our Armed Forces is such that there is stiff competition for promotion, two pass-overs for promotion and OUT. As to all those "freebies:" from Day One who knows what the future holds; a plush fun assignment or one to the boonies or some horrific battle zone as those endured by the military having served in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and God knows what the future holds. There are 2.5 Million Federal Employees more likely to die on the job than be fired or laid off. 25% earning $100K and up!!! They have a UNION. No qualifications required; job security. Think about it.
This is disrespectful. My wife is a disabled vet, we both served. She gets mad when sometimes she has to walk with a cane, and someone who MARRIED into the military gets a discount. Being the spouse of a stress magnet (Like firefighter.cop.logger etc.) Does NOT MAKE YOU ONE! There are plenty of distressed and honorable spouses that are not married to military, you are special, but you ARE NOT MILITARY!
Let me get this straight frank. The vet contributes his/her money to the family and because it happens to be his spouse who is shopping at the moment the discount should not be used therefore he/she should pay more? Maybe your real message is that only dual mil families should get the benefit….is that what you are saying? Your disabled wife gets vets benefits and access to vets resources. What does the mil spouse get…..no career and no career based benefits because they PCS all the time.
The only thing that comes across is you and your wife's bitterness. It seems from your post that you think the spouse and children and thus the service member should pay more because they (spouse/children) don't put on the uniform. Way to look out for your brothers and sisters in arms Frank.
Hey dummy, did you ever consider that the majority of married couples SHARE the bank account, and that every penny the spouse can save on their purchases saves money for the soldier?
Both of you need to chill.
Both meaning Frank and his wife.. Not you Ctznslr :)
Frank. Perhaps you have not had the personal experience with a "Notice of Casualty" and the successive official letters of empathy and condolences always re-assuring of the gratitude of a Grateful Nation and your earned respect as a MEMBER OF THE MILITARY FAMILY.
The only thing that irritates me is (when I was working in retail) was when I had a military spouse (husband was an O-5) buy over $100 in baseball equipment for her 5 year old only to find out that we offered a 10% military discount at our store AFTER she purchased, so she returned everything and re-bought it so that she could get the discount. To me, that is absolutely ridiculous. I am a military spouse, and yes, if a store offers a military discount, I would use it, but I would never ever do something like that!
Agreed. That is just tacky.
Gah! Retail is an honorable profession but does not attract genius in all cases; you cite your own testimony. There was nothing whatever dishonest in the honorable transaction in the first place; and to return the items for re-purchase on legitimate terms and conditions extended is just plain financial sophistication. Increasingly all the major home supply stores offer the "Military Discounts" as do many other establishments inclusive of auto repair and they PROUDLY post the extension of MILITARY COURTESY.
Ive been in the army for 16 ys and Im getting out on a medical so does that mean when I get out that Im not army anymore, or my kids that missed me when I was gone for 4 yrs doing my job and serving my country they went though hell missing me and dealing with the What If he does come home every day of thier lives til I got back home and then they have to live day by day after I do come back home When is dad leveing next and is he coming back. there not to many jobs out there that when you go to work you may not come back home, so why cant everyone that is conected to all service get 10% wow USA where did we go wrong.
what if he doesnt come back……sorry for the misstake
Most of the discounts are minimal but are still graciously accepted by myself , a military spouse. In my opinion the discount comes as a way of the business saying ,"thank you. I dont understand all the hostility behind a spouse getting a discount. AND it is up to the business to accept or deny dependents.Some businesses will even say "active duty military only". The way i see it is if they give a discount Yayy! if not, no love lost. I have never asked, unless im with my spouse BUT if they ask me i always say im a dependent because that;s what I am. Those spouses who act like they are in the military may act like that because of all they sacrifice by being a spouse. They are right there dealing w/ everything in the household. How can they not feel apart of the bigger picture (their spouse serving). Also since the spouse is out serving, he or she more than likely does not have time to shop, the civilian spouse does. Discount or not discount, spouses will still shop. But to those who offer a discount, it is still nice to know businesses don't mind sacrificing a little to say thank you and in the process gain some business.
Since a Republican senator is now talking about the "duplicative" nature of the commissary/PX system, it looks like on-post shopping will be taking a hit and military families will have to go where the civilians go to shop. Having a military discount will take the sting out of no longer being able to use the benefit of shopping near home and enjoying the military's buying power. Don't ever be afraid of taking advantage of a military discount… pretty soon that's going to be just about the only benefit of service that your family will be able to enjoy once the cutting is complete. The schools are next on the chopping block.
This is a point that may have been made elsewhere but not in my experience to date. Once was we had extensive dispersion of military installations on the validity of the premise of security from attack as opposed to regional and local focus as convenient targets. With base closures, there are few areas really boasting the military installations replete with the Commissaries, Exchanges and even Military Treatment Facilities. And mainly locations on the Southeastern coast and in the vicinity of Washington DC. In CA, there are few and far between making patronage a contest of mileage and cost and comparable savings having dwindled with what many may cite as totally inefficient management of dollar/benefit products and services; one Commissary opens at 10 a.m. when market supermarkets are nearly 24 x 7, The Exchange opens at 9 a.m. or so and is never stocked! Major cosmetic products were once ordinary and standard; no more. Pet supplies at savings of cost plus taxes and the 60% of pet families nationally are not a high order priority of the exchanges.
Fairness would be to re-assess these "benefits;" and fairly compensate in terms of "pay and allowances" for all.
Here is what confuses me….. 4 u that DONT Think WE the Military Wives do not deserve the discount or want to put conditions & stipulations on what we purchase, take this as food for thought; THE BIBLE says when WE enter into a marriage, WE BECOME ONE…. now while I understand that I DO NOT and DID NOT Physically serve in the Military – I/WE deserve the discounts plus more for what we sacrifice…..but YOU wouldn’t be able to WALK A CITY MILE in my shoes let alone a lifetime…… WE sacrifice more than you will EVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND…..EVER!!!!…. We are entitled to medical benefits, continuing educational benefits, but you have a problem with us getting 8-10 percent of food and retail items? GIVE ME A BREAK that’s ONLY TAX anyway!….
We sacrifice so much more as a spouse that the 10percent that you are bitchin about! That 8=10% PALS IN COMPARIONS…. to what we go thru……our children have questions constantly about their father/mother/service person, and We THE GOOD ones are lonely! Not for sex but just for his/her presence in the home, whether good or bad,,,, we sacrifice during the HOLIDAYS like NOW when our children and other family member are HAPPY we have to put on a HAPPY FACE while covering a HURTFUFL HEART…… our husbands miss MILESTONES in our children’s lives( i.e.… Births, Deaths, babies taking first steps, speaking their first word, they miss graduations, birthdays, weddings, grandkids being born and such……….. YET you are BITCHIN about 10percent which isn’t going to make or break ANY OF YOU….
I will say this when the store ask if I am military I say no I am not in the military but my husband is its up to them if they want to give me the discount or not.. and most will… I have run into places that will not because the discount is for service member and that member has to be in uniform to get it which seems to never happen because who wants to wear their uniform to dinner.. anyway its up to the stores and its ok to ask and if they do thats great for all and if they dont its ok too… I for one believe in the discount because there are many out there.. one for students in college and I can say I have seen many a friends faking being in college just to get that discount with an old college ID and there are SR discounts and fire fighter discounts and teacher discounts and yes I have seen those discounts go to their family member so there is nothing wrong with asking as a souse its up to the store if they want to give it … I say we have to buy things for the service member in our life so its like they are getting it not just us… so I say use it ladies and to those who dont want to thats ok its up to .. for me I am for finding a deal and getting more for my money and if they will give me a discount on top of the sales I just got so be it thats more money in OUR packet for other things…. we live this life and even though I know he goes through more then I ever will a small discount to me is a stores way of saying THANK YOU NOT ONLY TO THE SOLDIER BUT TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SHOP THERE…..
So until you have understanding of the Sacrifices & Struggles, have the FAITH, STRENGTH & RESILIANCY and posse the ADORATION and LOVE that WE have to have EVERYDAY, don’t EVER TALK about what we DON’T DESERVE, because while you are with your Family getting fat on turkey –U REMEMBER THIS…….. MY HUSBAND, SON and FATHER are fighting for you to eat YOU REMEMBER that my children are WITHOUT THEIR FATHER, UNCLE & GRANDFATHER….and remember YOU READ THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In most cases, spouses go through just as much hardship as the actual soldier. Therefore, they deserve it as much as the soldier does.
Doubly so because it's generally the soldier's money they are using to purchase the items. The discount goes to the soldier either way. Every little bit saved is more money he can spend on something he'd like for himself.
I see nothing wrong in excepting a discount offered by a business to anyone who has a military ID. I think it is honorable of a business to offer anything to military persons (and their dependents). They don't have too. They want too. I don't like to think of supporting my husband at what he does and taking care of our children as a sacrifice or serving along side him just because he is in the military. I see it as meeting my obligations and responsibilities of being a wife and mother.. That being said, I do see the argument that military spouses are serving and sacrificing. I do this because I love my family and I don't want my husband to worry about what is going on at home. When he is gone, he as enough to worry about. When people thank me for what I do, as a military spouse I always respond by saying thank you but I am only doing what any other wife and mother should be doing.
If Reservists get it, spouses should get it.
I see nothing wrong with taking the discount. As a matter of fact I will be using it for the holiday as I travel out of town.
The pay in the military isn't really that much. Anything that amounts to saving can be really helpful.
"The pay Isn't really that much" ???
As I said in my other "reply" check out the 2013 paycharts, where else can a high school grad who got d-'s to C's get a job that after 4 years will be paying him/her 50 to 60K, get free medical, if you work it right 6 weeks of vacation, a three or even as is often the case of a Thursday or Tuesday holiday like this week a four day weekend almost every month, look at the calendar of all the "federal holidays" a pension you pay nothing into and get after only 20 years, a 401K (TSP) will buy you a house, allow you to write of the interest payments you paid with tax free BAH against your taxable income all in a job where you will get COLA raises every year and for "longevity" that you have to really work at it "to get fired"
There may be a few but it is VERY few!
Dale, I hate to burst your bubble, but, benefits that were sold into someone signing up for service are being eroded. If you really believe that people leaving the military …"get a job that after 4 years will be paying him/her 50 to 60K, get free medical,…" you are sadly mistaken. No one gets jobs anymore that pay that much after 4 years in the military. (Unless of course you are lucky to be in a career field that affords you a secret security clearance) At the base we are stationed at, they have job fares here all the time. No one really gets hired, because not everyone has a T.S. clearance. Pretty much, all that seems to be offered is Walmart, Lowes, AAFES, There are government jobs, and they won't even look at you if you don't have a clearance,. As for free health care, 10 years ago when we were stationed at MINOT, we had to pay for my and my child's health care many times, (the base sent us off for routine care that they did not offer, and we had to pay co pays and such. I remember a young couple who had a baby that had a horrible intestinal deformity, I remember the squadron and people at the base raising money to help offset their medical bills. ) Retiree's now have to pay and when they hit a certain age, move over to medicare and pay some more. NO FREE HEALTH CARE, especially when he/she signed up and was told that it would be free for life. As for COLA raises, NOT everyone lives in an area that gets them. The only time we had COLA was overseas. DALE, you have no clue.
People in the military can't say no, I'm not going to work, going to war, going to be deployed, etc., yes, it's what they chose as a profession, or, for the time being until they acquired skills and experience. I always laugh when people say, "military life is easy, you all get so many breaks…" Really? ANd as for "a pension you pay nothing into", please, go and educate yourself first before making statements that you claim to KNOW…
R
Amy, As a retired servicemember I've always felt that the discount was meant to benefit the military member. So, how would it be any different if my wife or son used the discount? Doesn't it still benefit 'me'? It benefits my family which, especially during deployment, eases my mind that my beloved wife is using our resources smartly so that they will go farther. I think that a spouse, or dependent (I know, non-politically correct term) child, using the discounts for things that are needed is just fine. After all, my family sacrificed all those same holidays and family times when I was on watch or deployment as I did.
Jeff M
RP1(SW)
USN(Ret)
Spouses should get discount cards/ID Cards for military bases only for whatever they need, whether its the commissary or exchange stores. This has been a talk for some time on the executive level, but the policies and orders get shot down. The discounts off/on base should be priveliged for Military Troopers ONLY, whether your Active Duty or Reservists. They’re cutting back on cuts for commissary and the exchange stores for all branches and closing them down 1 by 1. I like hearing all these excuses on how im deployed, i work 12 hours a day. FYI your in the military 24 hours regardless what branch your in. Didn’t you all get the memo that your signficant other has a difficult job and will miss majority of your life whether he/she does 4-20 years or so. There is MOSs that don’t get deployed at all. I work among officers and NCO’s who have been in Active duty for 15-25 years and never done 1 tour overseas. Now the rest of the MOSs are deployable .Bottom line the discounts are used for Military Troopers not SPOUSES. Being medically retired and working among wounded warrior and families we all need to help each other regardless of ranks and politics. Spouses I do understand your struggles, take advantage of it, but don’t abuse it. You all have a great Thanksgiving!
Yes, it’s acceptable. Military spouses make sacrifices everyday especially ones with children and their spouse is not always around, you take the place of two people. I say go for it, it’s a way the community gives back and we keep them in business by returning for more merchandise. I am a veteran and currently a military spouse.
what is the meaning to this question? for sure, for sure! if you have been in service as a spouse, and i mean service too, because like it or not we deal with sooooo much garage, and the need for understanding of what WE do to support the military, why should anyone deny a small thank you for ALL we do? after 24 years plus of duty ,I think I have done my share. During these years I've feed and hosted young Marines, helped rise funds for balls, and ironed uniforms for burials, so 10% is nothing but a small thank you. God bless the miliray and all who love this country.
The wives have an ID card and should benefit from the spouse's service! They are as much a part of the military system as the soldier! The money they spend is usually the only paycheck so indirectly, the solder is paying for it anyway! Families suffer the most in the military!
@ Curtis and others with similar thoughts…..
I have three questions regarding your comment:
1) Besides our wives taking care of everything on the home front, which allowed us to focus on our jobs, are you suggesting military spouses are not deserving?
2) I am 80% service-connected / disabled and, though I'm now a civilian, we do utilize these discounts. Are you suggesting I should not be able to accept these offers?
IF SO, how much more sacrifice do you suggest spouses and disabled vet's pay, in order to be allowed to accept these discounts?????
We all (active, reserve, retired, spouses, etc.) need all the help we can get.
There is absolutely NO doubt that spouses should use military discounts when available. I served 2 years in the Guard and 20 years in the Navy and I can tell you my wife served right alongside me. There is as much sacrifice on the home front from spouses as there are on the lines. Sometimes I think it may even be harder in that she had to adjust her life for my absence while still having reminders around keeping her aware of me. I had to adjust as well but immersion in my job had its distracting benefits. If a military spouse is thanked for their service, believe me they earned it. On a side note the money saved from the discount is money from military pay and so……
I take the discount, nothing wrong with it since I hold a military ID card, for what we as service family members put up with not a big deal. Money is usually tight around here and we need all the help we can get.
I think Curtis has some major issues. I don't think he really understands the sacrifices that BOTH the active duty member AND, their family go through. I am a military brat, and military wife. My husband has served over 22 years in the military. I knew what I was getting into when I married him. (My stepdad was military, my grandfather served during World War II and was prisoner of war in Japan for more than 4 years, my great grandfather was a Colonel in World War I) What I and my husband never realized was, how difficult with all the moves, even with having a college degree, how hard it would be for me to have a career. Our plan was that he serve while I worked and had a career so that when his time came to retire, we would be able to transition out into the civilian world and still be able to send our kids to college, and buy a home. Well, many tours and deployments later, and not being able to get hired, not being able to have my certification transferred (in the many states we have been stationed), and with spouse job fares offering walmart, aafes, lowes, and such, always starting at the bottom of the totem pole, PLEASE, do not for an instant tell me I haven't sacrificed my wishes and dreams and career. At the end of his time in the military, I do not get veterans benefits, points towards me getting hired and such. I am grateful that my husband will, but sad that I too have served in my own way and supported him while he was deployed. You insult every spouse whether male or female when you make an asinine statement as yours. You obviously have NO IDEA!! Typical male chauvinist.
I also have known male spouses married to women in the military and they too have a really difficult time getting much less having a career in their own rights.
stop the dependent term and use family memberthe dark ages are gone
We all work as a team. My Military member appreciates all that I do to keep our home calm and moving. He is very happy when I tell him that I saved "us" some money by receiving a discount! Every little bit helps in this economy!! God Bless the USA, thank goodness there are businesses willing to help us out!! Thank you to Our Service Members and to these companies as well!!
My husband is the spouse(he is a vet too) and I know he takes the discounts offered but if they don’t offer then he doesn’t ask. He takes care of our 4 children and 2 grandchildren (their father was killed in Iraq, mom not in picture). I do deploy often I believe that all spouses should take the discounts. It helps with the day to day things diapers are expensive!
You want the discount? Join. You don't have a Military ID you have a dependant ID. Know the difference.
I guess I do not understand why this is an issue. I am a military spouse, I do ask at stores if they have a military discount, but I do not use a military discount to go crazy and buy a bunch of crap that I don't need for myself. If I ask about a discount it is when I am shopping for my family. I used to work full time before my husband joined the military but we decided it made more sense if I stayed home with our two young kids. We just did our first PCS, moving about 1,600 miles away from all of our family; everyone our girls have ever known. It has been hard on them, especially on our 5 year old; she doesn't understand all of the changes. So, I stay home and take care of the bills, the budgeting, the housework, the drs. appointments, any extra stuff my husband needs help with, plus I am a full time college student on top of it. Being a single income family now we have to live by a budget, if a store offers a military discount, I am going to use it. Just because I, a spouse, am the one using it does not mean that I am the only one it benefits or that I am taking advantage. These discounts help my family save money. This saved money can be put aside to use for things like emergency travel, moving expenses, and especially for special things that the four of us can do as a family in those rare times that we are together. I definately do not see a problem with a spouse using the discount in a positive way; after all my "sponsor" has to represent me and our kids for certain military matters like in health insurance and housing, so why can't I as a spouse represent my family and the sacrifices we have made as a whole, when it comes to a simple thank you like a military discount?
I don't see the problem. Military families are a whole unit and when one is deployed, they all deal with this. My husband is happy to know that I get discounts, he feels the appreciation from it. We are a team and when something affects one of us, it does the other as well. So military spouses should absolutely be able to get a discount. We sacrifice with our spouses, we have stressed during deployments (a different type of stress, but it is still hard either way), and we are ONE family unit. What effects one, effects all! That is how it works.
When you commit to marrying a person who is in the military, you commit to the military lifestyle. I am a working army spouse. My husband's career and our multiple moves has affected my life and my career as well. I have to find jobs that will work around a M-F schedule so that I have childcare for my children. I'm a nurse, and jobs aren't hard to come by if you are able to work nights or weekends, but when you move to a new place, you don't always have childcare unless it's M-F days only. I could make a lot more money to support our family if I could work at other jobs, but I can't because of him not always being home. I also am not able to stay at a job long enough for my employers to match my retirement contributions because the military decides when we move. All of these things affect how we are able to support our family. It's also hard to furnish multiple houses. Not all of them have the same number of rooms or curtains/blinds that are the same size. I think a 8-10 percent discount for military and their dependents is Awesome. I might not be serving, but my kids and I am along for the ride.
This question should have never even been posted. All this does it get crazy people out of the woodwork who have never been in this scenario, and gives them a place to put out their hate. Most people I see on here do agree that spouses of military members should be able to use the discount. I for one agree as well. But notice that the losers who are even posting the negative comments never come back on. They are just trying to stir the pot. But alas, it won't be until people STOP putting things out there from the get go that pot stirrers won't be able to react. Sometimes it's just good to know what you know, do what you do and shut up about it. It doesn't matter what other people think. And not everyone needs to know what you think. Just do what you do and get on with it. Not every thought, idea, etc. needs to be posted on the internet and dissected until it becomes an all out brawl. Have a nice day.
I'm a Gulf War/Somalia time formerUS Marine, served 8 years to the red white and blue and my beloved country. I never married when I was in the Corps. I have this to say, military wives are entitled to whatever any given business offers them. There sacrafice is a great one having there military member overseas in harms way. Taking care of everything on there own, bills, kids, house, and any number of things and having to worry constantly which way there loved one is coming home (battered mentally, physically, maybe in a body bag.)It takes a special woman to do this. MILITARY WIVES I SALUTE YOU! STAND BY YOUR SERVICE MEMBER! TAKE ALL THE DISCOUNTS YOU CAN GET! My opinion is this topic is silly at best a makes me mad. Support your troops and there families here at home. PERIOD!
This story didn't even need to be written. You can't begin to place a value on a military spouse. The knowledge that there's somebody back home who loves you and is keeping all the other aspects of your family's life in order is a national asset, well worth recognizing.
Here's some food for thought….yes, as a spouse, I take the military discount without guilt and admit to looking for special offers for military families. However, one thing that I firmly believe is that each offering is a kindness and you must pay that kindness forward. I donate to organizations that help militarynfamilies, Ive done fundraising for families in need, and when I find an amazing deal I buy several so I can donate them.
As a retired, 25 years, service member I have to say "Yes" my spouse as well as all spouses have served. Maybe not in the combat theater but certanly everywhere else. I have always felt that spouses almost always get the short end of the stick. Going into combat is far simpler (more dangerous) than than raising a sometimes single parent and sometimes dual parent family. Anything that says "Thank You" to them has been well earned.
I don't know what triggered this issue but as a retired member the military discounts have been offered for many years. Please keep in mind vendors offer military discounts as a curtesy to military members and their families, it's not something we expect or due us. I have talked in depth with a Lowe's manager and they choose to offer a 10% discount to the military as does many other stores as a way to say thanks for serving our country. The military discounts is not a military issue it's a business issue by the many vendors that support the military and their families. Sure it may be the military members that deploy to fight the war but it's the dependants at home that sacrifice as well to maintain a stable home life. The bottom line is companies have policies that offer discounts to the military and their dependants so whats the problem? Don't forget the discounts also boost the bottom line for those companies that offer them.
I think in most part these items were put in place for the lower wages but some are right theat its for the service member. Our local DMV you must be in uniform, Burger King must be in uniform, theater must be active duty but most others dont care. I wished some people would consider that (service member at direct family, spouse and underage childern)as the go to the commisary and stop buying freinds and extended family food. This is one of the benifits that congress wants to get rid of do to cost.
I hope the guy who thinks that our spouses do not deserve discounts is sitting down because I do not want him to fall down and hurt himself after reading my post! First, I am a disabled veteran rated at 100%, my son from my first marriage wanted to go back to college so I asked my DAV Officer what help was available. He asked me for the SSN's for my children All my children even my step children. There is 4 total. We filled out the paperwork and he provided a booklet describing the benefit they would receive from my disability. As it turns out only 3 of the 4 kids took advantage of the benefit which was $33,500 per. child over four years tax free! My son graduated Suma Cum Laude with a 4.0 in Computer Engineering, my two step daughters graduated magna cum laude with education degree's and teach grade school with one specializing in teaching special Ed students. What will it cost me? How about my life as I will die way too young and will miss so much! In fact, I almost died two weeks before Christmas last with a Stroke. So even when we stop serving in uniform and they use you up and send you home you are still giving them their pound of flesh!