To myself, I'm ex-service, others sometimes call me a veteran, I reserve that title for people who have put themselves at risk and made a difference.
Seconded that
gibbo568. As far as I'm concerned unlike a lot of people who came before and after me I had an enjoyable 12 years during which I saw the world, got reasonably well paid, did some fun things at HM's expense, and suffered nothing worse than a bad case of self inflicted sunburn in Aden. Different story for people like my dad who didnt see his wife and kids from 1942 to 1946, or others who came home from Afghanistan or Iraq etc minus various bits of themselves. I dont want any special treatment, I dont want anyone "thanking me for my service" and I wont be applying for a "veterans card". I could also give the example of Mrs TTN who came out of the QARANC as a nursing sister and immediately took a 50% drop in pay when she got a job as a civvy nurse, and right up till she retired 10 years ago never really got a decent salary. Under this system she could qualify for discounts etc on the basis of her military service but sod all for her many years as as NHS midwife.
I want nothing to do with it.