total bitch

[ChaoKuang]

I've had a customer say to me "I've served in the Navy, you should be giving me FREE coffee AND THANKING ME for taking it."

Excuse you? Seriously.

[Ironclad Alibi]

It's probably a good thing I'm not in retail. I'd be tempted to say, "I'll never discount our military. They're the greatest in the world."

[Primer]

I generally won't ask about discounts up front, but if I see some literature about any, I just might ask about various associations to which I belong. I am always ready to accept a "no," however.

It doesn't hurt to ask politely for a discount, but one should never be assumed or demanded.

[ThirdGenRetail]

I'll occasionally ask if a place has a military discount, but that's only if I'm there in person and can show my ID. And if they don't have one? Ah well, never hurts to ask.

Granted, if I get one here in Virgina Beach, I'm actually a bit surprised because this is a military town and a lot of places gave up on discounts years ago.

You have no idea how profoundly happy it makes me if people actually ASK politely, which I'm guessing you do. I wonder if you've ever been through one of my lines now... I will only say, I'm hard to miss in most crowds.

That said... The Entitlement people always ruffle me. ALWAYS. "Oh, and I get military discount." No asking, no being polite, and assuming that Corporate hasn't suddenly dropped it. "I get discount."

[Jack Doe]

Aaaand....back on topic.....

Ok... (pouts)

[Ree]

Aaaand....back on topic.....

[Jack Doe]

To be gnat's-ass specific, you can technically enlist in the US military at 17, but you need to have parental permission, and they really prefer that you finish high school or have a GED before you actually go to boot camp.

To be even more specific, an individual can enlist into the Armed Forces of the United States at the age of 16, with parental release. Said individual will have his/her paperwork processed, and will enter into the "Delayed Enlistment Program."

For the Army and USAF, there is also "Split Option" which allows individuals in the DEP to actually go through basic training during summer break as a rising Senior in high school. Individuals who follow this route must be eligible for graduation from High School or an equivalent (such as a GED program) within 12 months of his/her entry into Basic training. An individual going to Basic under split option must be 17 or older on the day of their deployment.

Without parental consent, an individual must be 18 years of age (age of majority) to begin their enlistments.

[Nohbody]

Yup. Enlistment age in the US is basically as long as you start basic (or acadamy if you're going the officer route) on or after your 18th, you're good. Drinking age is 21.

To be gnat's-ass specific, you can technically enlist in the US military at 17, but you need to have parental permission, and they really prefer that you finish high school or have a GED before you actually go to boot camp.

[AccountingDrone]

(I also have to say that yes, I have heard people at the Navy Exchange asking for a military discount - when they only serve the military and those authorized, and there is no sales tax on anything no matter what state you are in - and again very strict ID checks).

AFES [armed forces exchange system] granted doesnt charge sales tax, but there is a percentage tacked on that is about the same as sales tax that goes to the base MWR fund [morale welfare and recreation]

I will shop on base before I shop off base for lots of stuff, the cost is actually lower already, and the 'tax' goes to the MWR fund for the guys on base. I especially buy tickets to amusement parks, the aquarium and whatnot on base as the military discount is already 'built in' to the price.

My dad served in combat in two wars.

Whenever anyone played the combat veteran card with him, he asked the man what unit he was in or what his MOS was.

Amazing how many "combat veterans" served their country by fixing the ice machines in the bars at the officer's club.

The teeth-to-tail ratio in the US military means that many Iraq vets never left the security of their bases. This isn't true if you're infantry/Marine but applies to most Navy and Air Force personnel.

So, yeah, I respect your service but don't try to BS me by passing yourself off as someone risked his life in combat everyday he was in Iraq.

read as I sit here looking at my dad's shadow box. Flag from retirement ceremony and assorted awards, silver star, 2 bronzes included.

Award note on one bronze star:The progress of the task force to which Corp T was assigned was halted by a road block over a mined bridge of the Dhunn canal...

The Germans mined bridges by building a barricade of giant caltrop looking constructs made of girders, and suspended a naval mine or torpedo [whichever they had on hand] so you couldn't push them off the bridge or they would explode. Someone had to go over, remove the proximity fuses and *then* push them off the bridge. Under fire.

My dad had very little patience for chairborn warriors. [he was in from 1939 through 1969, as I said previously we come from a military traditional family. He joined up before the war, back when it wasn't a popular thing to do - just expected of him]

That is really stupid, it isn't as if it is particularly *hard* to get a discount, AAA is pretty easy to get ... just join AAA and get lots of club benefits anyway, discounts are just icing on the cake. I have had their towing service save me a number of times with dead batteries, flat tires and an occasional dead electrical system over the past 30 years I have been a member.

[Phantomgrift]

Yup. Enlistment age in the US is basically as long as you start basic (or acadamy if you're going the officer route) on or after your 18th, you're good. Drinking age is 21. Anything more on the topic is, well, Fratching-worthy, so I'll leave it at the facts.

Thread-drift strikes again!

I can state that one actually gets to be a pain in the ass.
Mostly because it's one thing for them to enlist, but we'll go overseas and have junior guys pull the "Whoo! I'm in a different country! I can drink even though I'm 17/18", etc. Yeah, then they get plastered, stupid and spend the port-call in the brig.

[simplyanother]

I'll occasionally ask if a place has a military discount, but that's only if I'm there in person and can show my ID. And if they don't have one? Ah well, never hurts to ask.

Granted, if I get one here in Virgina Beach, I'm actually a bit surprised because this is a military town and a lot of places gave up on discounts years ago.

I'm in (and well, from) the same area (not The Beach though). I think one reason many places don't offer the military discount--is because it really does seem like almost everyone in the area is connected to the military in some way. If they're not currently serving, they're a dependent, or they're retired. So it'd be a "just about everyone discount".

I often get asked by folks who've just transferred to the region--if Glitter Hell offers a military discount. Then when I tell them, no, we don't--I get lectured about how I should. Because I'm in charge of that. Lots of places advertise that they have military discounts, but it's not a given. What gets me about GH is--it's not like this is a local company. There are locations all over the country. I don't know if other locations near huge military populations have a discount, but I don't think they do.

The woman in the OP, she's batshit crazy. If it wasn't the military discount, she'd find some other reason to bitch and whine about having to pay full price. Or having to deal with the rules in place to obtain said discounts. It's people like her that MAKE the discounts so hard to get, I'm sure. Abusing them, and abusing those who would be in charge of giving them.

[Getpowned]

im a vet also

when people take things like that to an extremity were not above anyones rules even if we fought in iraq or afghan its nice when they do comply but theres a limit.

[Akasa]

I took one of my Navy friends to a movie the other week and when the lady at the ticket counter looked at him and asked if he was military we were like "Yeah why?" We got a discount. It so didn't cross my mind that they would have one.

[Auto]

My dad served in combat in two wars.

Whenever anyone played the combat veteran card with him, he asked the man what unit he was in or what his MOS was.

Amazing how many "combat veterans" served their country by fixing the ice machines in the bars at the officer's club.

The teeth-to-tail ratio in the US military means that many Iraq vets never left the security of their bases. This isn't true if you're infantry/Marine but applies to most Navy and Air Force personnel.

So, yeah, I respect your service but don't try to BS me by passing yourself off as someone risked his life in combat everyday he was in Iraq.

[bsaana]

I hate to say it, but those that always whine for the military discount SUCK! Yes I know you are serving our wonderful country. My wife was in the Navy for 6 years. 4 of those years we spent in Sicily at the base there. I worked at the bowling center there. It was on the base and for use by the people stationed there or traveling through. Got it - Only Military members and families...

Can anyone guess what one of the questions asked to me the most was?

If you guess something about a military discount you would be right. No there is no military discount on something that only AUTHORIZED military members and family get (yes there were checks of military ID cards).

Honestly a discount for military members is great if the company is willing to offer it - and NEVER should any military member or family member feel entitled to it.

(I also have to say that yes, I have heard people at the Navy Exchange asking for a military discount - when they only serve the military and those authorized, and there is no sales tax on anything no matter what state you are in - and again very strict ID checks).