Military discounts worth having...
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Reserve Forces personnel during periods of full time service of at least 3 months.
Commissioned Officers of the RAF Reserve carrying out full time duties in uniform in peacetime
Commissioned Officers of the RAF Reserve carrying out full time duties in uniform in peacetime
and looking at your profile Mackay,
1. All members of the Regular forces (including university, medical and dental cadets) wherever they are stationed.
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Can't speak highly enough for the Oyster card deal. Applied for it earlier this year and used it for a family break, saved bucket loads.
Just got back from a States trip where flashing the plastic was also very useful, fortunately not the plastic Mrs GF is used to...
As Noregrets previously stated, Sea World, Busch Gardens free entry. Universal will reduce fees on entry. Unfortunately no recognition with Disney, seemed to be a US military focus only.
Stepping aside from the financial aspects - it was actually quite humbling to see the approach to the military effort. The punchy Here's to heroes DVD prior to the Shamu Seaworld show and the subsequent applause for the military had gave my wife a real onion cutting moment.
It's good to see we are moving in the right direction.
Just got back from a States trip where flashing the plastic was also very useful, fortunately not the plastic Mrs GF is used to...
As Noregrets previously stated, Sea World, Busch Gardens free entry. Universal will reduce fees on entry. Unfortunately no recognition with Disney, seemed to be a US military focus only.
Stepping aside from the financial aspects - it was actually quite humbling to see the approach to the military effort. The punchy Here's to heroes DVD prior to the Shamu Seaworld show and the subsequent applause for the military had gave my wife a real onion cutting moment.
It's good to see we are moving in the right direction.
I would heartily second what Conficius said. As one still in the U.S. military reserves, I know from experience that you merely need to ask whilst here visiting in the States. It is not considered "forward" or cheeky but merely something that the resteraunt/fun park/retailer etc. might not have posted. Even places like New York city (that you would think is far from a military base) offer a lot in this regard.
If they pause as they consider that you are non-U.S. military, I would recommend that you simply mention what forces you are serving with. For example even the most head-in-the-sand of my American countrymen now knows of the sacrifices that the British cousins are making in Afghanistan at the moment so a lot of these merchant discounts will be afforded to you as well. I can guarantee you that no one, and I mean no one, will look sideways at you if you pose a polite query regarding a mil discount.
The list in the U.S. can be almost endless. Amtrack for train travel in the Northeast U.S, amusement parks, mobile phones etc. Give it a try. It can be no worse than when I ask if we can take the quick route to the hotel after landing in LHR!
If they pause as they consider that you are non-U.S. military, I would recommend that you simply mention what forces you are serving with. For example even the most head-in-the-sand of my American countrymen now knows of the sacrifices that the British cousins are making in Afghanistan at the moment so a lot of these merchant discounts will be afforded to you as well. I can guarantee you that no one, and I mean no one, will look sideways at you if you pose a polite query regarding a mil discount.
The list in the U.S. can be almost endless. Amtrack for train travel in the Northeast U.S, amusement parks, mobile phones etc. Give it a try. It can be no worse than when I ask if we can take the quick route to the hotel after landing in LHR!
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Oyster Card
I have probably missed it somewhere else on this thread but does anyone have anymore gen on the Oyter Card deal?
Many thanks!
LFOGOOTFW:
Many thanks!
LFOGOOTFW:
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Apple give 8 percent of anything - just show your ID.
Vue cinemas also give discount.
Virgin Atlantic also give 10 percent.
JPA however gives you nothing but headaches!!!!
Vue cinemas also give discount.
Virgin Atlantic also give 10 percent.
JPA however gives you nothing but headaches!!!!
JPA however gives you nothing but headaches!!!!
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Free Rugby
Richmond Rugby club allow HM Forces into their games for free. Normally £10.
I found it to be a reasonable standard of play, nice ground with free seating in the grandstand and free parking. Good cheap, chicken/sausage/burger and chips, and Stella on tap
at a decent price.
Tell the missus she can do a bit shopping in Richmond, load up a rucksac with some tinnys and head for the game.
Richmond FC
Edited to add, Virgin Atlantic don't give 10%, Virginholidays however do.
I found it to be a reasonable standard of play, nice ground with free seating in the grandstand and free parking. Good cheap, chicken/sausage/burger and chips, and Stella on tap
at a decent price.Tell the missus she can do a bit shopping in Richmond, load up a rucksac with some tinnys and head for the game.
Richmond FC
Edited to add, Virgin Atlantic don't give 10%, Virginholidays however do.
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I agree with Uncle Fred. - I'm surprised at the reception you received from Disney, Grimfixer. I've encountered a number of British Servicemen in the US and none of them seemed to have any difficulty in getting those military discounts which were offered to US military personnel.
I retired from the RAF 20-odd years ago. When I did, I handed in my 1250, received a letter thanking me for my service and a pension. - I understand that nowadays, you hand in your 1250, get the letter and a promise of a pension to be paid at some later date ... If the government hasn't spent it.
I had no retiree ID card, I was no longer eligible to use that excellent hotel chain (The Mess), I could no longer receive health and dental care from RAF Stations or hospitals (other than through the NHS provision afforded by the latter), I could no longer fly on an indulgence flight, and I could no longer shop at NAAFI (.... the last wasn't a great loss.
)
My wife retired from the USAF about 5 years later. She got a pension (a more generous percentage of her basic pay than mine) and we both got retiree ID cards. We can stay in on-base accommodation (space available), we can shop at the BX and at the Commissary, we receive free Health and Dental care (space available) at Military installations worldwide and in the event that I go to a civilian doctor, 'free' (well, affordable) health insurance which pays 75% of the allowable costs. We can also 'hop' (again, space available) on US military aircraft ... though I can't do that on my own.
The United States Air Force has an Air Force Association. The Royal Air Force has RAFA. When I was in the RAF, serving members were encouraged to join RAFA - though the take-up wasn't that great.
The Americans also have the MOAA - Military Officers' Association of America -'One Powerful Voice' which is open to both serving and retired members of all services. We are members of both - and have been for a long time.
MOAA does indeed have a powerful voice; it's a very influential political lobby and works on behalf of both serving and retired personnel.
The UK has SSAFA, which although it provides invaluable assistance to servicemen, isn't comparable with MOAA.
American Servicemen aren't political activists; indeed, like their British Counterparts, their 'political activities' are somewhat limited. They are allowed (and encouraged) to become members of MOAA which can - and does - lobby on their behalf.
I can't help wondering whether British forces (and retirees) fare so poorly in comparison to their American counterparts because they do not have an organisation similar to MOAA acting on their behalf.
If that's the case, then we - both serving and retired members of HM Forces - have only ourselves to blame.
There is nothing to stop serving personnel from joining RAFA. Presumably (though I doubt that either the MOD or the Government would be at the head of the queue to encourage it) there would be nothing to stop British servicemen (those on active duty AND retirees) from campaigning for - and joining - a tri-service organisation.
An association for serving and retired British Forces personnel would never be as big or as powerful as the MOAA, but - provided it spoke with 'one powerful voice' - it could act to influence the benefits offered to and quality of life of both serving and retired personnel.
I retired from the RAF 20-odd years ago. When I did, I handed in my 1250, received a letter thanking me for my service and a pension. - I understand that nowadays, you hand in your 1250, get the letter and a promise of a pension to be paid at some later date ... If the government hasn't spent it.
I had no retiree ID card, I was no longer eligible to use that excellent hotel chain (The Mess), I could no longer receive health and dental care from RAF Stations or hospitals (other than through the NHS provision afforded by the latter), I could no longer fly on an indulgence flight, and I could no longer shop at NAAFI (.... the last wasn't a great loss.
)My wife retired from the USAF about 5 years later. She got a pension (a more generous percentage of her basic pay than mine) and we both got retiree ID cards. We can stay in on-base accommodation (space available), we can shop at the BX and at the Commissary, we receive free Health and Dental care (space available) at Military installations worldwide and in the event that I go to a civilian doctor, 'free' (well, affordable) health insurance which pays 75% of the allowable costs. We can also 'hop' (again, space available) on US military aircraft ... though I can't do that on my own.
The United States Air Force has an Air Force Association. The Royal Air Force has RAFA. When I was in the RAF, serving members were encouraged to join RAFA - though the take-up wasn't that great.
The Americans also have the MOAA - Military Officers' Association of America -'One Powerful Voice' which is open to both serving and retired members of all services. We are members of both - and have been for a long time.
MOAA does indeed have a powerful voice; it's a very influential political lobby and works on behalf of both serving and retired personnel.
The UK has SSAFA, which although it provides invaluable assistance to servicemen, isn't comparable with MOAA.
American Servicemen aren't political activists; indeed, like their British Counterparts, their 'political activities' are somewhat limited. They are allowed (and encouraged) to become members of MOAA which can - and does - lobby on their behalf.
I can't help wondering whether British forces (and retirees) fare so poorly in comparison to their American counterparts because they do not have an organisation similar to MOAA acting on their behalf.
If that's the case, then we - both serving and retired members of HM Forces - have only ourselves to blame.
There is nothing to stop serving personnel from joining RAFA. Presumably (though I doubt that either the MOD or the Government would be at the head of the queue to encourage it) there would be nothing to stop British servicemen (those on active duty AND retirees) from campaigning for - and joining - a tri-service organisation.
An association for serving and retired British Forces personnel would never be as big or as powerful as the MOAA, but - provided it spoke with 'one powerful voice' - it could act to influence the benefits offered to and quality of life of both serving and retired personnel.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Now however the new ID card is only valid for 3 years or so, so if you do 'lose' it you would retain its privileges for only a year or so.
As for staying in messes, this was both the Treasury clamping down on precuiary advantage and some people ripping the arse out of the system. I stayed at Carlisle mess before it closed. They were very circumspect as they had been done by a retired gp capt. He didn't say he was retired and he didn't pay hos mes bill before he left. He probably had been a gp capt (or is that libelous of all gp capt in which case I withdraw the inference).
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This may be useful.
http://www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk...ans-Poster.pdf
As might these. Many discounts can be negotiated anyway and my advice would always be to see who is advertising in your station rag and try and batter 25% off them for openers.
Forces Discount
Forces Discounts - Directing Market Forces to the Forces Market - Home Page
http://www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk...ans-Poster.pdf
As might these. Many discounts can be negotiated anyway and my advice would always be to see who is advertising in your station rag and try and batter 25% off them for openers.
Forces Discount
Forces Discounts - Directing Market Forces to the Forces Market - Home Page
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The facility of being to stay in a Mess away from your home Station was fairly useful when I was a young singly - I didn't use it that often, but if I wanted to go away for a weekend (and if there was space available at a Mess near where I was going) it came in handy.
As for the Treasury worrying about servicemen obtaining a 'pecuniary advantage', I suppose that's typical of their attitude. If there was an empty room in a Mess, they didn't get any money for it and the 'fixed costs' of operating the Mess were still there. If I or somebody else used that room, then the 'Variable cost'- the cost of laundering the sheets - was more than covered by the accommodation charge.
Moving back to discounts/benefits available to servicemen: The Americans have an R&R facility a few miles from here (the Edelweiss Lodge) which is certainly open to British Forces personnel.
As for the Treasury worrying about servicemen obtaining a 'pecuniary advantage', I suppose that's typical of their attitude. If there was an empty room in a Mess, they didn't get any money for it and the 'fixed costs' of operating the Mess were still there. If I or somebody else used that room, then the 'Variable cost'- the cost of laundering the sheets - was more than covered by the accommodation charge.
Moving back to discounts/benefits available to servicemen: The Americans have an R&R facility a few miles from here (the Edelweiss Lodge) which is certainly open to British Forces personnel.
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I think you may find that the Edelweiss Lodge is only open to British forces personnel who are currently assigned to a NATO base in Germany. 
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Hewlett Packard telephone order for a new PC monitor. I knew the online discount from the link on the MOD website, but the telephone order got me a 'significant' discount well beyond expectations, and free delivery within 24 hours. Note; the kit is new on market not old stuff they are getting shot of.
V Happy
V Happy
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I think you may find that the Edelweiss Lodge is only open to British forces personnel who are currently assigned to a NATO base in Germany.
I was in the area today, so I called in to ask ... but nobody seems to be sure. - They seemed to think it was available to BFG - but when I said: "What about British Forces at SHAPE?" that caused confusion."British Forces on NATO assignments"- Which would include BFG, those at SHAPE and in Brussels (or anywhere else in mainland Europe) along with personnel assigned to (or just returned from) Afghanistan seemed to meet with approval, as did 'People on orders' (which is open to fairly broad interpretation.
)I'll obtain clarification tomorrow and post the real answer (well, the real answer for that day) on this thread.
Re. MOAA
I suppose the UK equivalent would be the Forces Pension Association (please see www.forpen.co.uk) ... this supports all ranks and 'lobbies' on ex-service pensioners behalf on several fronts including War Widows.
I suppose the UK equivalent would be the Forces Pension Association (please see www.forpen.co.uk) ... this supports all ranks and 'lobbies' on ex-service pensioners behalf on several fronts including War Widows.