I know we want to recognise those who served the country, but what about people who have fought for other countries (UK, Russia, Turikye, Australia, Finland, etc). Even though they didn’t fight under the Stars and Stripes, shouldn’t they still be commended for their bravery and service?

32 comments

  1. Your premise is false. Military discounts are for whoever the business offering them decides they are for.

  3. Um… why would an American company give a discount to a Russian military veteran, ESPECIALLY seeing what they are presently doing to the Ukraine?

  4. > shouldn’t they still be commended for their bravery and service?

    We wouldn’t know. Americans have little experience with what foreign countries do with their militaries.

    For instance we wouldn’t consider an Austrian who performed his mandated military service and was never deployed to count. We also wouldn’t want to give a discount to say a veteran of Iraq who was part of the invasion of Kuwait.

    We honor our own veterans who we can (mostly) know and be proud or their service record.

  5. The discount isn’t for general bravery, it’s for service to the US. Russian military members did not serve the US.

  6. If they’re serving in the U.S. many businesses will provide them the same generosity as U.S. servicemembers.

  7. Imagining a former Taliban fighter asking for 50% at a auto zone makes me chuckle

  8. They’re being rewarded for their service *to the US*. Why would your local pizza shop or whatever care if someone helped another country?

  9. >> Even though they didn’t fight under the Stars and Stripes, shouldn’t they still be commended for their bravery and service?

    I’m now laughing at the idea of my Russian immigrant neighbor asking for a military discount on the basis of having been conscripted by the USSR back in the ~~90s~~ 80s.

    Go ahead and commend him. I imagine you’ll get an earful.

    Edit: fixed a typo to avoid time travel.

  10. >Russia

    Do you not see the problem with listing this country in your question about “commending bravery and service?”

  11. I’m a restaurant manager and my restaurants have always offered a military discount to anyone who served, regardless of country. We had a German military headquarters nearby and would often give discounts to German soldiers.

    That being said, in order to get a discount, they had to be in uniform or carry an up to date military ID. I’d imagine a person in the military visiting from another country on vacation or something might not have those things on them when they go out to dine.

  12. Well I’m quite sure vendors in other countries offer discounts to their own citizens and do not extend them to Americans.

  13. > Even though they didn’t fight under the Stars and Stripes, shouldn’t they still be commended for their bravery and service?

    Sure, by companies in their country. Considering there’s no country-wide mandated discount for veterans there’s no real rules about it (outside of discrimination against protected classes I suppose. I mean you couldn’t give discounts to white veterans and deny the same discount to black ones. But you could give one to active military members only, or service members who deployed only, or hell probably only members of the United States Marines if you really wanted to. A random cashier at Waffle House wouldn’t give a shit and would probably give you a discount if you’re a veteran of any military, but I doubt that a small, veteran-owned BBQ joint that’s open 10-3 would give a discount to a Russian/Soviet military veteran.

  14. Maybe because American companies are only concerned with American service members…

  16. It is entirely up to the business owner. I’ve seen cases where someone asks for a discount for serving in the British military or Canadian military, and usually if the asker is polite, and the nation they served with is an ally, the business owner will oblige, but don’t count on it.

    Obviously, those who served nations that are seen as hostile to the US are unlikely to get military discounts. For example, US citizens in general ain’t too pleased with the Russian military right now, so it’d be unlikely a business owner would wanna reward someone for being a Russian soldier.

  17. Reminds me when I was a Senior in High School and yet I could not get a Senior Discount at the various businesses that offered it.

  18. A friend of a co-worker was in the Australian Army and the few times I’ve been out with my co-worker and his friend, his friend has gotten a discount by simply asking. He shows some sort of ID too when he asks. I’m guessing they don’t really care because it’s only 10%.

  19. Why would businesses in a country give discounts for service members from another country? No other country does this so I don’t know why the US would.

  20. It’s the proprietor’s call.

    But tbh why should it be for literally every military’s members?

  22. Because this is America. Don’t like it go back to your country and get a discount there for your service in that country

  24. Actually if you can produce a military ID from a US friendly country, most stores will give you this discount. But I am not sure if other countries give veterans such an ID. I know Germany doesn’t have that since they are not as veteran friendly as the USA.

  26. Those of other militaries did not fight to defend the US, and some are even enemies. They deserve no praise or thanks from an American business. And likewise an American Military person deserves no praise or discount from their businesses.

  27. No they shouldn’t be commended for their service somewhere else in the United states. What kind of question is this? Lol

  28. Because they are defending our country. I have no reason to be grateful for someone from Isreal or Egypt defending their countries.

    War and being a soldier isn’t a good thing

  29. Military discounts aren’t a celebration of militaries, they’re intended as a thank you to US soldiers whose service helped “protect US freedom”.

    Culturally, the US doesn’t celebrate other countries’ allyship to the same degree we do our own soldiers.

  30. I think we’re having a couple different conversations.

    Conversation 1) Military discounts: *Active* military personnel

    Conversation 2) Veteran Discounts: *Former* military personnel

    Conversation 3) To whom and why discounts are offered.

    1) Most places with Military discount will offer them to *anyone* in uniform. Jager Krause comes in in uniform and he’s getting the 10% off his coffee. Brigadier LeClerc in uniform? She’s getting the Free upgrade. You are serving your country and your people in a foreign country. That’s a lot to deal with.

    2) Veterans have served ***MY*** country, therefore, served ***ME***. They wrote a blank check to the government for “Any cost, up to and including my life”. I **absolutely** respect the veterans of our allies. That said, that Canadian Army Vet did not serve for me and my nation he served him and his. Our nations goals simply aligned; that his actions helped secure my freedoms was a happy bonus for him, nothing more, nothing less.

    3) Because I can. I am able to offer a discount to anyone at any time and for any reason. Lakers fan discount? Sure. Fans of red socks? Absolutely! Pajama day discount. You bet! Offering a student discount encourages students to shop with me, as will a military or veterans’ discount

  32. Finland has conscription so it isn’t exactly a choice, same with many other countries.

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