1.  A CAP cadet's parent posts on social media that his teenage cadet (wearing CAP uniform, never served in the military) got a military discount.
2.  A CAP officer (never served in the military) commonly receives military discounts when wearing the USAF-style uniform.
3.  A CAP officer (never served in the military) occasionally receives military discounts in civilian clothes, because his CAP ID just happens to be visible in his wallet when he pays.

Can we get a consensus here as to the proper response?

I've seen the "I may not be in the military, but I'm in its unpaid auxiliary, that's close enough" defense.
I've seen the "quiet acceptance is okay because there ain't no rule" defense, i.e. If National Headquarters wanted you to turn down military discounts or clarify your status, they'd put it in a regulation.
I've seen the "people can read, the uniform says CIVIL AIR PATROL and they know, they really are thanking you for your service with that discount" defense.
I've seen the "if a nonmember of the military is offered a military discount, that's where an honest person would be forthright about his/her status instead of silently accepting it" response.

My thought:  We teach character development, yet we have some adult officers who see nothing wrong with exploiting resemblance to our serving military counterparts for financial benefit.  It boggles the mind.

Quote from: DoubleSecret on December 06, 2014, 03:32:41 PM
Can we get a consensus here as to the proper response?

Thank you.

Quote from: Eclipse on December 06, 2014, 03:33:53 PM

Quote from: DoubleSecret on December 06, 2014, 03:32:41 PM
Can we get a consensus here as to the proper response?

Thank you.

Agreed... If I was offered a discount I would politely decline... but if you are in uniform and it shows up on the receipt/check unannounced... I would just say thank you.

Exactly so - "Thank you".

My presumption is that members will not claim stolen valor, by actually seeking said discounts, rights, or status.  If I ever see/hear same, I will (have) quietly take(n) them out of earshot for course corrections ASAP.

Do not ask for it, but if offered, graciously accept and thank the person.

Quite often, even after explaining that we're not active duty, but civilian volunteers, cadet programs, search and rescue, aerospace education, and that our organization is structured similarly to the Air Force, as it's auxiliary .. I have -still- been extended a discount. Many times the conversation starts out as 'are you...', and it's explained, like you know it's coming.

Several local vendors know -exactly- who we are and intentionally extend some sort of acknowledgement, in return word spreads and businesses are patronized both by members and non-members alike.

Isn't that what it's all about in the end? To many merchants, at least in this larger military and service organization friendly locale, extend some type of acknowledgement to community service groups, LE/FD, et al., as well.

Last year I shanghai'd Pylon to come up to my unit and help "supervise" a photo shoot for recruiting materials.

Afterwards, before he headed back home, we went to grab a bite to eat and we were both still in uniform.  We went to a small little restaurant here in town, just before closing, and ordered up quickly so we didn't inconvenience anybody.  When the check came, it had a 25% discount for "military" on it.

Now, we probably could have said "hey, uh, yeah, we're not military" (actually, Pylon is a Devil Dog, so I guess they were 1/2 right..) but would it have done any good? Probably.

Its not like we went there expecting a discount (I didn't know they even had one!), nor did we seek it out.  In compensation, since then I go there quite a bit with my family and I talk the place up to anybody who will listen.

At a certain point, what are you doing by correcting well-meaning civilians?  (ie. same as "thank you for your service")  You're basically saying "You shouldn't do that because..." or "Well, some folks in uniform don't deserve this.."  which, in a way, erodes confidence in the military.   

Bottom line: if you're in a CAP uniform and seeking out discounts, you're probably wrong. If you're in a CAP uniform and you wind up with a random discount, just say thanks and drive on. 

(About half the time, when I pull up to the drive thru at Dunkin' Donuts across the street from the Joint Forces HQ on my way to CAP, and they spot my uniform, they usually give me the 10% discount.  Its not worth anybody's time to lean out of my car and try to explain thru the little window that I'm not really military.  She sees a bunch of people a day in ACUs, ABUs, flight suits and Class B's.  The nuances are lost to her. I don't say when I'm at the little speaker stand "Military discount" but they see the uniform in the car and they apply it. Oh well..)

My $0.02:

If you ask for a military discount based on your CAP membership/uniform, you are wrong.

If an establishment asks if you are military, politely explain and let them decide if you get one. If they give you a discount, just say thanks.

If an establishment gives you a military discount without asking, just say thanks.

On a semi-related note, I work at Home Depot, where a 10% courtesy discount is offered in-store. We had been offering it over the phone until about February last year. Well, of the couple dozen people who asked about it, the majority understood. Some got all indignant about it, even after it was explained to them. Even when I bbrought up fraudulent use, they got mad. How can we check an ID online? I would ask. Not my problem, he replied. I want it, I deserve it and you're going to give it to me.

Why?

People are people, and some will try and take advantage in any way possible, or just to "stick it to the man".

Not much you can do about it.

If it's company policy, not much you can do - maybe suggest a process by which you could verify qualification
in store for future purchases and maybe even in-store credit on past sales once verified.

OTOH the flight suit is a "chick magnet".  Maverick out .. 

Quote from: Private Investigator on December 06, 2014, 09:10:33 PM
OTOH the flight suit is a "chick magnet".  Maverick out .. 

I've worn a flight suit off and on since 1986 or so. .

It ain't working, Goose.

This can be a bit ambiguous.

Certainly none of our members (who do not now nor have not ever served in the Real Military) should misrepresent their true status.

However, there are businesses, large and small, that appreciate CAP's contributions to community and nation while recognizing that we aren't the "real" Air Force.

One example that comes to mind are the large hotel chains that readily offer our members the military discount for conferences and other activities.

My ultimate take is "be truthful" and, if still offered, "say thanks"!

If you ask "do you have a military discount" and show your CAP ID and they give it too you.....good on you.   And good on them.

If you ask and show your ID and they say "no not CAP" then good on you and good on them.

I don't really care.

I have never been comfortable with the military discount for CAP. I have only encountered this a few times with meals and I leave a tip that covers the discount plus if needed.

If you are going to the mall for personal  shopping in uniform that is just plain wrong. Likewise flashing a CAP ID card (joke that it is) is also wrong as well as inquiring about a mil discount based on CAP membership.

If there is no graceful way to avoid the situation thank the business and move on.

I've never noticed a discount on the occasional time I've grabbed a bite to or from a SAREX while in CAP uniform but I supposed it could have happened. That said I did stop once for gas while in CAP uniform on my way to a SAREX and the young clerk behind the counter asked what branch I was in. Turns out she was Air Force Reserve (E-3 I recall) and I couldn't outright tell from her tone whether she thought I was some kind of wannabe military or genuinely wasn't familiar with CAP. I did spend a few minutes expaining the difference. The times I have been there in my RM uniform I've never run in to her so who knows if she believed me.

Another advantage of wearing a polo shirt, these moral quandaries of appearing like something you're not don't come up.

I did get a discount once because the person behind the counter recognized the polo because her child was a cadet in another squadron. I was told the discount was in appreciation for being a volunteer, I thought that was nice.

Quote from: Fubar on December 07, 2014, 10:46:54 PM
Another advantage of wearing a polo shirt, these moral quandaries of appearing like something you're not don't come up.

I did get a discount once because the person behind the counter recognized the polo because her child was a cadet in another squadron. I was told the discount was in appreciation for being a volunteer, I thought that was nice.

I've never had a "moral quandary" about a rare discount being offered. Be gracious, say thanks and move on. The person offering the discount has forgotten about it before you even reached the parking lot.

Quote from: NIN on December 06, 2014, 09:40:56 PM

Quote from: Private Investigator on December 06, 2014, 09:10:33 PM
OTOH the flight suit is a "chick magnet".  Maverick out .. 

I've worn a flight suit off and on since 1986 or so. .

It ain't working, Goose.

Goose! You are on fire! BAIL OUT! Maverick out .. 

Quote from: lordmonar on December 07, 2014, 12:46:16 AM
If you ask "do you have a military discount" and show your CAP ID and they give it too you.....good on you.   And good on them.

If you ask and show your ID and they say "no not CAP" then good on you and good on them.

I don't really care.

If you ask for a military discount and you are not military then not "good on you."  What is your rationale for asking for a MILITARY discount if you are not military?