Should military discounts only be for people that meet the VA's legal definition of veteran?

2017-03-21T10:56:59-04:00

I'm at Cabela's and the clerk asked if I'm a veteran and I give my usual no. I gave my usual no and my girlfriend blurts out yes. As she is applying the discount, I explain to her that I was a reservist with no deployments. She rang it up anyway and I didn't want to hold the line up so I didn't argue it. I never ask for discounts and I felt like I was stealing valor. Was a law broken?

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Mar 21 at 2017 11:33 AM

2017-03-21T11:33:09-04:00

Sounds to me like you did nothing wrong. The stores determine their own policy, and they extend it to whoever they want.

The only issue would be the verbiage of their policy. A "military discount" means something different in lots of different places. Sometimes it's only for those serving on active duty. In other places it also includes retirees. In other places it includes veterans who didn't retire and are no longer serving. In even more places it also includes family members.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Mar 21 at 2017 1:12 PM

2017-03-21T13:12:48-04:00

The definition of "veteran" for a discount is up to the merchant. Many lump in police, fire and EMS into that category as well.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 21 at 2017 1:44 PM

2017-03-21T13:44:01-04:00

Up to the store how they apply their discount. However, there IS a legal definition of a Vet, and you meet it, far as I can tell. Whether or not you ever deployed has nothing to do with it.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Mar 21 at 2017 2:04 PM

2017-03-21T14:04:39-04:00

I agree that you took the high road on this! I will say that I think all former soldiers in your position (i.e. never deployed or on active duty except for training) should be considered veterans as you had or have no control during your service of being activated and deployed. I will say that the ones who I have or had little tolerance for are those who when notified they are being deployed have a meltdown or tried using a lame excuse like it would interfere ,with their schooling. I seen this happen several times with both officers and enlisted folks and in my opinion they should be immediately discharged and made to pay back $$ for schools attended on the taxpayers dime!....Guess I'll get off my soapbox now!!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 2:18 PM

2017-03-21T14:18:33-04:00

Technically, a "Veteran" is anyone who has served for a minimum of 6 months.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 2:39 PM

2017-03-21T14:39:22-04:00

It's up to the company to who they give discounts to.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 2:48 PM

2017-03-21T14:48:41-04:00

Hi, SPC Butler.

The definition of veteran can vary. To some, it means those who were active duty. To others, it is a title limited to only those that deployed, or those that retired. According to the VA.gov website, for the purposes of health benefits and services, a person who served in the active military service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable is a veteran.

But you wore a uniform and put yourself to the hazards. Active, Guard, or Reserve, in any branch of service, I would be hard pressed to find any of my brothers and sisters that would argue your vet status.

I know a lot of people that served honorably but weren’t active duty or didn’t deploy, that didn’t look into the lion’s den. But they were on station and on the line. The needs of the mission kept them elsewhere, and I will challenge anyone that questions otherwise.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 2:55 PM

2017-03-21T14:55:43-04:00

So you are a reservist with no deployments. Do you attend monthly drills? Do you go to annual training? Do you do you job in the reserves as you are supposed to?

If so then I think you are in fact a military veteran.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 3:41 PM

2017-03-21T15:41:02-04:00

SPC James Butler I agree with SSgt Private RallyPoint Member You are a veteran and a fellow brother.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 3:46 PM

2017-03-21T15:46:21-04:00

Some stores include reservist, police and fire fighters. I am a vet retired reserve with 3 tours. Eating at Cheddar's Saturday evening and had my vet hat, the waitress asked me if I was a vet I said yes, she picked up my check and said I will be back, I got $2.40 off my tab, did not ask for it but she gave it to me. I do not ask any place but sometimes they offer some times they don't.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2017 5:07 PM

2017-03-21T17:07:39-04:00

it depends on the company, I use Lowes a lot for work and home, their sign clearly states what is acceptable, active id, retired, VA card, reserves/ng, and so on to include civil service, as far as the legal definition, if you got a DD214 your a vet, whether it was combat, active or reserve/national guard, whether you served 6 months to 40 years, if you got proof your a vet, then its the company's decision.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Mar 21 at 2017 6:29 PM

2017-03-21T18:29:49-04:00

You responded the way you felt was right but I agree with everyone here. You are a veteran! You volunteered to defend our country, against all enemies both foreign and domestic. The fact that we enjoyed many years of relatively little or no strife around the world is not your fault. Thanks for serving our country Specialist Butler.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Mar 22 at 2017 11:34 AM

2017-03-22T11:34:47-04:00

No. You are a veteran. Whether you deployed or not. You didn't break any laws. It would only be stealing valor if you started telling war stories or making something up. You did your time. You served your country. You are a veteran.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Mar 22 at 2017 11:49 AM

2017-03-22T11:49:20-04:00

First of all, it is the prerogative of business offering the discount to define who they give the discount to. If they want to say "Veterans" when they mean "Combat Veterans" I wish them luck trying to sort that out with any individual claiming it. When I see Veteran, I automatically assume the actual definition, which is one who served in the military. Period. Again, if they only want to offer it to combat Veterans, I would have to ask, how they verify this? What constitutes combat Veteran? Do you have to shoot a weapon? Do you have to be shot at? The VA has their definition which states one who has served in a combat zone, but again, how is this verified? Also note the VA also recognizes the broader term of Veteran to be one who simply served in the military (regardless of being deployed).

Second, I rarely see a business use the term "Veteran" (at least by itself). Ususally they say "military" personnel, sometimes coupled with "Veteran". However, there are some that actually delineate between active duty military and those who are separated/retired. For example, the free annual National Parks pass is only given to active duty personnel (which sucks now that I'm retired and able to visit these places more). On the other hand, I can get the free Texas State parks pass if I am a Veteran with a specific amount of disability. But this criteria is verifiable and it doesn't require you to consistently carry the documentation with you.

I think it's safe to say when a business says "Veteran" or "military" discount, they mean anyone who served in the military for any period of time, regardless of whether they deployed. If you see this at Cabela's, Lowes, Home Depot, movie theaters, etc, take it! You earned it and there is no need to be that humble about the amount of service you gave. No one's judging you. I have saved A LOT of money at Lowes and Home Depot for my home improvement using that 10% discount they offer.

To be honest, this argument about people splitting hairs between combat Veteran and Veteran is tiresome to me. There are people who have served in combat zones who have done significantly less to advance the war effort than many who stated stateside and provided outstanding support from their locations. To me it sounds like someone trying to size them self up to appear more superior to another when they argue "Well I served in a combat zone and you didn't." We're all on the same team and each of us had a specific role to do

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Mar 23 at 2017 1:05 PM

2017-03-23T13:05:30-04:00

I say that the retailer wants to recognize people for their service. If you put on the uniform and wore it honorably regardless of where you served, I believe you deserve the discount. Don't feel that the designation is not warranted.