How do you react when a civilian offers to pay for your meal or other item?

There are some options m Sir.

1. Accept graciously
2. Tell a white lie: "I appreciate the gesture, but I am not allowed to accept"
3. Pass it forward.

I usually get a free in flight meal. Once I had the attendant give mine to a hungry kid near my seat. Another passenger saw it and bought me a meal anyway.

I am thankful there are those who are gracious enough to thank us for our service and do so in many ways. While I have never had civilians pay for a meal, I don't see anything wrong with it. Especially if it appears that it would offend them if the meal wasn't accepted. I don't view it as charity, but instead "thanks". And there should be more thankful people in this world!

I, too, find it awkward. Usually I'll try to decline if I can, but people tend to be insistent.

I had an incident where I was at a Denny's with some people and an older couple paid for all of us without telling us as they left. Just the other day I stopped at a store and was buying a six pack of beer on my way home, the guy ahead of me in line gave the cashier two dollars toward my purchase and I had no idea until I had gone up to pay.

Often, when out with civilian friends, I pay when I can. If they want to pay I ask of they pay taxes and tell them to consider it a tax refund- always a fun quip!