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Every veteran or service member has been faced with whether or not they want to ask for the military discount at select retailers and restaurants. Maybe it’s painless at a famously patriotic stop like Lowes or Home Depot, or maybe it’s less advertised and more awkward.
Do you go for it? Do you ask for the discount? It can’t hurt, right?
As you may imagine if you’ve been following Terminal Lance for a while, I’m with Abe on this one. If a business wants to give me 10-15% off my purchase because I wore camouflage or whatever, that’s their problem and my gain. Life is hard enough, I’ll take what I can get. Maybe it’s awkward for some, but I went to Iraq twice and I grew up poor as hell.
You think I’m too good to take advantage of the world’s largest corporation giving me 10% off a new iPad? Hell no I’m not.
If you’re anything like me, you may appreciate this comprehensive list of places you can shamelessly play the Veteran card.
Speaking of being shameless, please check out the official TL Patreon! My goal is to get enough subscribers on Patreon that we no longer need these eye-sore ads. Help Terminal Lance go ad-free and subscribe today!
…There is no military discount.
So, uhh, do you have a military discount?
If you don’t have a DoD ID and want an actual “veteran card” to play, read on…
Anyone who received an honorable or general-under-honorable conditions discharge from any component (active duty, Reserve, or National Guard, including the Coast Guard) can obtain a Veteran ID Card (VIC) from the VA at no charge.
It’s a digital card, so you’ll keep it on your phone or tablet. I’ve had no problems using it to secure military discounts.
Get the details and apply online: https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/vic/
I live in Colorado. The local dope store offers a military/veterans discount. You damn right I take it
I surreptitiously check out establishments prior to entry. Most every business that gives a military discount brags about. I figure that if they went to the trouble of announcing this discount, it would be dishonorable for me to not ask for it. I won’t ask every time however. Sometimes, when the subject comes up, I tell them to give it to the younger troops that come in to their establishment.
USMC 1981-1985 Cpl
USAF 1985-2007 SMSgt