Best in the local area though!

Will TA count - I could have two :}

I'm not entirely sure how a 'V' device on a driving licence counts as a veterans ID card. Seems to be asking people to stretch their imaginations somewhat.

Which way round will the V be?

Crikey, you ungrateful bunch. You don’t have to have one; it isn’t compulsory!

Personally, if it affords me some form of recognition that I have served the country and that it might give me “a leg up” for extra help in the future when I need it, then I am most grateful. As it might bring me some other benefits and costs nothing when I have to change my photo licence every 10 years anyway, then I, for one, will most likely decide to have it.

Thank you

Well, you can, but it's not on the DDS list of participating companies, so that's probably why

As enticing as a watermark on my driving licence in 2020 might be. Is there any chance they could work with Carillion Amey on fixing the heating in my quarter that hasn't worked for the last 4 weeks?

... thought not.

Right, I'm going out on a limb here. I'm expecting to get flamed, and I've got my tin hat ready.

If I am honest, I don't see the fact that I have served in HM Forces, in itself entitles me to special treatment, any more than if I had been a policeman, a fireman, a nurse or even a street sweeper if it comes to that. I'm not talking about men and women who have suffered as a result of their service, either physically or mentally, it is entirely right that they should be looked after well. What I'm talking about is the vast majority of us, including I suspect a lot of us on here, who spent a number of years of their life doing interesting and varied work, probably travelling a fair bit, and getting adequately, if not over-generously paid for it. Also for anybody of my age or younger we all volunteered, nobody made us join up.

I'm proud of my service but I don't want any special treatment for it. I haven't applied for a Defence Discount Card, which I understand is pretty useless in any case, and I wont be bothering to claim this new thing (or get a V on my driving licence), should I live that long.

Right, I'm off down to the shelter now ;)

TTN,
Don’t fret. As already pointed out, it’s not compulsory to have one.

Not sure I’d bother, either. I served for almost twenty years, but I’ve since worked as a civilian for longer.

I also will not bother with the driving licence, unless they automatically do it when I (if I) renew it at 70. As for the discount card most of the offers are on line ones for gift cards, but on the high street there are enough to get 10% off, especially if you are into outdoor pursuits.

I usually try two methods of getting discounts, one is the DDC and the other is the pensioner ploy, so far it has worked in ones that are not part of the DDC side but still gave me a good discount, one said because I asked both those were a double strike and he would add to the cost as a surcharge, he was only joking, wife gets a bit embarrassed when I ask, but likes the discounts when I get them.

I get better discounts with my NUS card.......

The Veterans badge, and probably DDC will work in the US.

We use the DDC in our local factory shop. Dishwashers tablets and washing powder etc are inexpensive there but another £2 off is always welcome. They are quite happy to extend the discount to my MiL when she shops with us.

As for a big V on your driving licence, that could work a treat when hiring a car in some countries or parts of UK.

With the possibility of a Corbinista revolution around the corner I suggest that anybody wishing to self identify as a "Veteran" will be inviting a visit from the "reconstruction" cadre. (May happen anyway..)

Imagegear

Personally I don't in public or social occasions advertise WIWI. . .

I recall once at a campsite in France Mrs PN asked our neighbour how her husband got his gammy leg. "Oh it was ze war you know, bomb bomb bomb, and what does your husband do?" "Oh. Just a civil servant"

Might there not be a security issue with being so readily identified as former UK forces through your driving licence?

In the early 2000s during a visit to Ireland I realised with some consternation that my driving licence noted my birthplace as "British Forces Cyprus". I flagged this to the DVLA on my return, and they sent me a new one (for free) just marked Cyprus.

Well, I just attempted to register with the DDS card. At the outset, they say they will need your service number, in order to confirm you are eligible. Having provided this, they come up with another requirement; provide your service ID card or go to an MoD web site to pay for your service records, in order to confirm you are eligible. And I thought I had done the confirming bit with the service number. I shall give it some thought before proceeding any further.

Landing out on a gliding cross-country with an RAFG GSA K8 from Gütersloh in the late 70's, I got the attention of a middle-aged couple picnicking, who strolled over to the glider -resplendent in RAF roundels .
I was invited to join them whilst waiting for recovery.
The gentleman remarked, after confirming that I was in the RAF , that he was in the German Navy during the Second Great Misunderstanding. It transpired the he was a survivor of the Tirpitz.

" An hour and a half in the bloody water without a life raft . Oh yes , I remember the RAF."
.
.
"More cake, young man ?"

I recall that, back in the 1980's, when the RAF had a morale and retention problem, they appointed the splendid Air Commodore Bobby Robson to review the problem and report. He bounded into the Officers's Mess Ante Room with a number of cracking wheezes. One of these was a form of ID Card for veterans.

Nothing wrong with that for, back in those days, it was a sentimental gesture and more a way of keeping the affiliation going.

I wouldn't trust the present civil service with an ID Card. They will put some kind of chip in it and use it for information gathering so they can keep tabs on ex serviceman.

Virtually (pun intended) everything that Whitehall touches these days involves gathering personal data.

So, I wouldn't touch an veteran's ID Card with the long end of a selfie stick.

I just obtained my service records and it didn't cost a penny. I just filled in a MOD Form 1694 (Apr 15 version) that is available publicly on the web, sent it off, and had my service records within 2 weeks. I had noted that if you go via the mod.gov.uk website there is a charge attached for exactly the same service.