Faking status for military discounts

[2005jettatdi]

Gon, The problem is, all of us who were in combat arms (Infantry, artillery, armor) took an equal risk of being deployed even though for many of us it did not happen. I was under no illusions when I took my oath and committed six years of my life to Nixon, Ford or Carter sending me someplace I did not want to be because someone else would be trying very hard to kill me.

That is the final reality of service in the military. Even those not in combat arms often paid the final full price. Also, training was never without risk. Do not anyone ever forget it.

 

[GON]

Gon, The problem is, all of us who were in combat arms (Infantry, artillery, armor) took an equal risk of being deployed even though for many of us it did not happen. I was under no illusions when I took my oath and committed six years of my life to Nixon, Ford or Carter sending me someplace I did not want to be because someone else would be trying very hard to kill me.

That is the final reality of service in the military. Even those not in combat arms often paid the final full price. Also, training was never without risk. Do not anyone ever forget it.

Fully concur with your post.

Only thing I would write differently, is in the military you can't quit. Even under contract, every single job in the USA one can quit at any time. In the military, one can't quit, even if they are under leadership that is brutal.

 

[PMT133]

I don't even feel comfortable when the convenience store offers me a a free drink after a call... I volunteer my time and know what I'm getting into. If I die, I die. At least I can opt out at any point if I wanted to. My Grandfather served and I have nothing but respect for you all.

 

[Astro14]

ChatGPT was posed with the following question:

"write a merit based military discount plan for home depot based on how hard each branch's operational service burden, with ten percent military discount being the highest discount"

This is ChatGPT's response:

"I’ll frame this as a practical corporate proposal using measurable operational burden rather than stereotypes, with 10% as the maximum benefit. The policy will recognize individual service hardship without ranking entire branches as inherently more deserving."

Example 1: Army veteran with extensive deployment history​

• Army starting discount: 7%
• More than 220 deployed days in one year: +3%
• Calculated rate: 10%

Final discount: 10%

Example 2: Navy veteran with a lengthy sea deployment​

• Navy starting discount: 6%
• 180 days away from home port: +2%
• Certified hazardous operational duty: +1%
• Calculated rate: 9%

Final discount: 9%

Example 3: Air National Guard member mobilized for disaster response​

• Air Force starting discount: 6%
• 90 operational days: +1%
• Qualifying involuntary activation: +1%
• Calculated rate: 8%

Final discount: 8%

Example 4: Space Force member in continuous missile-warning operations​

• Space Force starting discount: 5%
• No qualifying deployment-time credit: 0%
• Continuous 24-hour operational assignment: +1%
• Calculated rate: 6%

Final discount: 6%

Example 5: Marine with combat and deployment service​

• Marine Corps starting discount: 7%
• 150 deployment days: +2%
• Hostile-fire or imminent-danger qualification: +1%
• Calculated rate: 10%

Final discount: 10%

7. Veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses​

For veterans, the discount would be based on the highest qualifying operational period during their entire military service rather than only recent service. Once verified, the veteran’s rate would remain permanent unless the veteran later submits documentation supporting a higher rate.


Current military spouses would receive the verified rate assigned to their sponsoring service member. A surviving Gold Star spouse would receive the sponsoring member’s verified rate or 10% when the necessary service details cannot reasonably be obtained.


This preserves independent Home Depot accounts for spouses, consistent with the present program.

View attachment 349827

Great - now ask your AI to plot a discount based on service member average IQ.

I'll wait...

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Gon, The problem is, all of us who were in combat arms (Infantry, artillery, armor) took an equal risk of being deployed even though for many of us it did not happen. I was under no illusions when I took my oath and committed six years of my life to Nixon, Ford or Carter sending me someplace I did not want to be because someone else would be trying very hard to kill me.

That is the final reality of service in the military. Even those not in combat arms often paid the final full price. Also, training was never without risk. Do not anyone ever forget it.

With asymmetrical warfare all MOS are subject to similar major hazards. Not disputing what you said (spent time in the Inf), but asymmetrical warfare approaches by the enemy changed who is really at risk. It is just about all soldiers. That is pretty much the new normal.

 

[GON]

I don't even feel comfortable when the convenience store offers me a a free drink after a call... I volunteer my time and know what I'm getting into. If I die, I die. At least I can opt out at any point if I wanted to. My Grandfather served and I have nothing but respect for you all.

Will have to assume you are a LEO.

Thanks so very much for what you do. I can't a more challenging or dangerous/life threatening in every shift basis than a LEO.

Add body worn camera, and everything you do is subject to review by anyone, and can always be taken out of context, edited, etc .. and placed online.

In California, anyone at anytime is entitled to a California LEO's employee record, evaluations, everything without redaction(except PII). Name one other job that is subject to that. Workers in California are afforded the most protection of any workers in the other 49 states. Except California LEOs, who are afford the very least protection of any worker in California--- not even close.

I don't know how LEOs do it, but I am so very grateful.

Supplemental- the very best professionals at every level make seven to eight out of ten decisions right. Someone that makes ten out of ten decisions right never made a decision. A LEO that makes eight out of ten decisions right get fired, or significantly worse becomes a casualty or fatality.

 

[GON]

Great - now ask your AI to plot a discount based on service member average IQ.

I'll wait...

Actually I thought chatgpt got it wrong with the Navy.

All the other branches essentially get some breathing room. Being on a ship for what appears many months at a time, sleeping and eating in the very closest of quarters. Zero breathing room.

Navy has arguably the best duty station is on a macro basis. But living on a ship sharing bunks for some..... Submarine even worse.......

Monster kudos to the Navy.

 

[Passport1]

This graphic leaves me uncomfortably conflicted.

Should we be quantifiying a member's contribution based on his/her risk? All serve. All knowingly accept and accecpt greater risk, others by dint of their skills and by the grace of God have less or no risk. I've worked with USPHS officers and cared for NOAA officers. What they do is undeniably valuable but exposure low lisk I've worked with USMC/USN personnel who's work is high value/risk high. Did I ever think my job was more important than the USMC cook feeding me?

Never, not once, always complimented their offerings no matter how meager in the field they were.

Some earned this;

some also unfortunately earned this;

or this; I have one

 

[burbguy82]

in the military for anything other than a selfless sense of duty, is serving for the wrong purpose.

To expect a discount or special treatment, is ridiculous. To get a discount because you served, eh, great. "Thank you for your service", when I hear it, from a person that I know, knows nothing of what it means, makes me angry.

 

[Astro14]

in the military for anything other than a selfless sense of duty, is serving for the wrong purpose.

To expect a discount or special treatment, is ridiculous. To get a discount because you served, eh, great. "Thank you for your service", when I hear it, from a person that I know, knows nothing of what it means, makes me angry.

And from a fellow vet, whether they shared your experience or not, that same "Thank you for your service" takes on actual significance, doesn't it? It does for me, at least, because, regardless of the differences in MOS, (or AFSC, whatever), we absolutely share the experience of having served.

Now, at the bar, after a few drinks, perhaps, the inter-service rivalry comes out, and we can compare, uh, "attributes"...but that is all in good sport.

 

[burbguy82]

Great - now ask your AI to plot a discount based on service member average IQ.

I'll wait...

Hey now Captain.......139 here boy!............ when I was 25. Much less now of course, probably 50

edit: deleted copied image.

 

[burbguy82]

And from a fellow vet, whether they shared your experience or not, that same "Thank you for your service" takes on actual significance, doesn't it? It does for me, at least, because, regardless of the differences in MOS, (or AFSC, whatever), we absolutely share the experience of having served.

Now, at the bar, after a few drinks, perhaps, the inter-service rivalry comes out, and we can compare, uh, "attributes"...but that is all in good sport.

Yeah, agreed.....I am just saying that it is over-used, and most who say it really dont mean it....they say it as a buzzword.

Edit:

service is service........does not matter the job, or branch, all necessary, agreed

 

[2005jettatdi]

in the military for anything other than a selfless sense of duty, is serving for the wrong purpose.

To expect a discount or special treatment, is ridiculous. To get a discount because you served, eh, great. "Thank you for your service", when I hear it, from a person that I know, knows nothing of what it means, makes me angry.

This!

Fully concur with your post.

Only thing I would write differently, is in the military you can't quit. Even under contract, every single job in the USA one can quit at any time. In the military, one can't quit, even if they are under leadership that is brutal.

And, This! Police can quit, firefighters can quit, garbagemen, oops sanitation workers, can quit, but once in the military they get to keep you until you are properly discharged.

 

[PMT133]

Will have to assume you are a LEO.

Thanks so very much for what you do. I can't a more challenging or dangerous/life threatening in every shift basis than a LEO.

Add body worn camera, and everything you do is subject to review by anyone, and can always be taken out of context, edited, etc .. and placed online.

In California, anyone at anytime is entitled to a California LEO's employee record, evaluations, everything without redaction(except PII). Name one other job that is subject to that. Workers in California are afforded the most protection of any workers in the other 49 states. Except California LEOs, who are afford the very least protection of any worker in California--- not even close.

I don't know how LEOs do it, but I am so very grateful.

Supplemental- the very best professionals at every level make seven to eight out of ten decisions right. Someone that makes ten out of ten decisions right never made a decision. A LEO that makes eight out of ten decisions right get fired, or significantly worse becomes a casualty or fatality.

No sir, not LEO. HAZMAT. We do work in tandem with the county prosecutors office and local PD for going through all the bad actors though. We'll be sent in to clear meth labs, puppy mills, drug dens, search warrants in what would be considered hazardous conditions etc. And entirely volunteer. I do it because I bring forth a skill set that is of the benefit for the county but my day job I'm just a typical public servant. My boss is my cheif funny enough and it took a lot of convincing to get me to come on board but I am glad I can help.

The day by day risk is low since we aren't activated all that often but when we are usually the stakes are quite high. Other times not but you never know when the Pager goes off... like I said, know what I signed up for but the LEOs have it way way worse and I have nothing but respect for those guys too. Every one I've worked with have always been stand up guys and they'll even jump in and help if they can and it's of no imminent danger to them. Obviously a lot of times they have to sit it out but when they can help they always do.

 

[BC1]

in the military for anything other than a selfless sense of duty, is serving for the wrong purpose.

Guess I was in for the wrong reason then. My father said, once you graduate school you are out of the house. I needed a job and a place to live. Turned out to be okay so I stayed for 20.

 

[Passport1]

Seems to me it is not a question how close your fat is to the fire but whether your fat is available to the fire.

 

[burbguy82]

Guess I was in for the wrong reason then. My father said, once you graduate school you are out of the house. I needed a job and a place to live. Turned out to be okay so I stayed for 20.

No, you miss my intent out of context What I am saying is,.....if one serves, for the purposes of getting perks like discounts at lowes, or have a need for folks to "thank you for your service", one joined for the wrong reason, or at least retroactively have the wrong attitutude.

Sure, we all have our reasons to join, but the expectation of those who decided not to serve, to prop you up on a pedestal, is not the right spirit.

a chick flashing a DD214 like it is a free meal ticket, is not in the right spirit.

 

[GON]

chick flashing a DD214 like it is a free meal ticket, is not in the right spirit.

OP reported late husband served as an enlisted service member in the 1970s, a very dark time to volunteer to enlisted in the United States military.

Some store/ restaurants offer discounts for those that have served in the military, and their spouses.

Not sure what the issue/ concern is. Nobody I would enjoy seeing receive a discount for service to nation more than a purple heart recipient, or a current or former junior enlisted servicemember (or their spouse) who were either drafted or volunteered to serve their nation. Especially a Vietnam era vet or a vet who volunteered during or right after the Vietnam era.

 

[Silverado12]

FWIW my wife doesn't even think about using my military discount unless we're out together. It's not even a thought.

 

[burbguy82]

Not sure what the issue/ concern is

Read my previous posts on this thread. Was i not clear?