I think all these military discounts are kind of going overboard. Thoughts? Am I being too harsh here?What is the reason behind military discounts?You can look at it as a company jumping on the "for the troops" bandwagon and just doing it to look good to the public.
OR
That they are showing that they truly do appreciate the sacrifices that military service exacts from the soldiers and their families.
As for "kind of going overboard" it's up to you to decide that.
Personally,knowing what "inconveniences" my neighbors son and his wife have endured during his 4
tours in Iraq and now in Afghanistan while she keeps house and home together for them and their two children(the second one he hasn't even seen in person yet)
OR
My cousin that came home early from his 2nd tour in Iraq because he got his arm blown off below the elbow.
I don't think a 10% discount at the local pizzeria is going to far overboardWhat is the reason behind military discounts?Military does not get paid well at all. It's just a way for businesses to show their patriotic support of the fine men and women who serve our country and risk their lives for us. With everything they do for us 15% off is the least we can do.What is the reason behind military discounts?From your Question I can see that you did not grow up around Military nor are you related to a military personnel who is E6 or below. Here are a few points I hope will help you understand why I don't think you are too harsh - just under informed.
- Reserves and National Guard Member who get called up might be lucky to have their good paying job when they are done serving. A family who was use to Dad or Mom bringing home 40 to 50K (more or less) a year now has to live on less than 25K while their family member serves. E1 to E6 pay rate a month can range from 1400 to 2400 for the month. This can cause a great life style change.
- A lot of Military families have only the one income for those enlisted and it is not always by choice. Spouses are subject to the unemployment rate like the rest of the non-military job hunters. They have the added stress of being uprooted when their military spouse is transferred across the country and having to seek a new job every few years.
- Benefits have been cut to the bone for many enlisted as well as ranking positions within our branches of service.
- Private organizations are picking up the slack to help out these families when an emergency arises. The service branch is not going to help a mother of 4 whose husband is serving in Iraq and she has had to move the family because the owner of the townhouse she is living in did not use her rent payments to pay the mortgage and now the bank owns it and kicked her out. Not only did she incurs moving expenses she is now renting a place that costs more a month but she has no choice - she had to keep a roof over the children's head.
So if a business wants to give her 15% off clothes for her children for school, a restaurant wants to make it more affordable for her to have dinner out for a special occasion with her kids. If a computer company wants to give her a laptop so she can find a job, help the kids with school work or have that video chat with her soldier in Iraq - I say give out the discounts!
I donate to an organization called Operation Homefront that has a chapter near me - and I will be donating towards their Military Child back to school program next month Last year I spent over $100 in supplies at Dollar Tree and Office Depot who both support this non-profit - I eat at Outback on their special menu so the funds are raised to help the military families. I design a card for Discover so more money is donated to non-profits that help the military family. I bought my tote from a store that the funds raised from those sales goes to help a military family.
Military families have it just as hard as the rest of us. The big difference is they risk losing their loved one everyday fighting for the American way. If some business wants to give them a discount - I say it should be more than 10 or 15% but just like the rest of us they will take what they can get and the difference between them and some of us is they will be thankful no matter how small the gesture is.
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