Veteran's ID
 

From the horse's mouth, so to speak. Of any potential use (some discounts from sympathetic retailers/suppliers would be usefu)l:

Ok where to start...
Define 'veteran'...

Ex-servicemen?
No disrespect, that term is meant to cover both sexes, call it service personnel if you wish.

Ok, we all know that covers a huuuuuuge spectrum of involvement, risk, effort etc.

Do ALL qualify?

What about my mate, a copper. Now I haven't read the attachment, so if it was covered, sorry. He ran teams breaking into drug houses. Do he and his team qualify?

Do we want to mention firemen, nurses, coastguard, HMP, etc. All of whom face risk and danger. I know I have missed some, I'm sorry.

And yet I don't think that any of this is actually that important.

It's about national Psyche.

We are a traditionally reserved people. We tend not to congratulate or thank people easily. Until we do, and I am not convinced it is necessary, this may well be devisive.

So, and with no desire to be unappreciative, kinda 'Thanks but no thanks?'......

Obviously that's personal, but I can, by logic, speak only for myself.

Sorry chaps, Sunday evening, perhaps I should have put the malt down before typing.....

we do reasonably free speech here, isaneng ... from my POV, taken as meant! ;)

As to the "Card" ... if it means anything, instead of just a gesture, I'm all for it. But it will COST. My RAFA "Retired Service Card" say I was Military already, so what is this supposed too actually achieve?

I'd best stop chittering and read the details!

I never found that a veteran's card/badge afforded me any benefits at all until setting foot on a P&O liner for a cruise when a credible proof of service bought £75 worth of drinking vouchers. The mysteriously lost F1250 which surfaced years later was worth a headache or two. Veterans card, if it qualifies, bring it on!

Dougie,

We have a few hours together on Albert.
Ok, you got me, free drinks,....yeah!!!!!!

You may buy a Defence Discount Card at just £4.99 and valid for 5 years. It is now the only proof that P&O will accept for on-board credit. All Carnival cruise computer give on-board credit. The card gives you discounts in many places. Some discounts can be quite significant.

The DDC is available to widows and MOD Civil Servants (not retired), and like the veterans ' badge, even a day's service counts.

Regarding the OP, what about the . . . Sorry, this is the Ministry of Defence. If the police want recognition lobby the Home Office etc, etc

BTF, quite, horses for courses, though why stores don't advertise 10% off everything all the time☺

Never understood this need to be recognised and rewarded just for being ex military. You, me, we were all paid, nobody forced us to join in the first place, although I do remember the shock when the Falklands broke out, when some people suddenly realised they may have to actually go to war.

Dan, the answer is you are probably too young. Look at those WW2 veterans, many just chucked their medals in a drawer or let the kids play with them. Now, with the war reduced to TV and Hollywood they are the remaining living history. Even now many don't remember the Cold War and for many civilians the terror. Maybe not constant fear but fearful never the less.

Another more subtle use for veterans ID as in the discount cards is advertising. The more people showing these cards will advertise the presence of quite ordinary people in the community.

​​​​​​Quite when a simple Veterans ID would be useful however is questionable. What happened to the PM's great idea of displaying it on your driving licence? I also remember when you did NOT show Armed Forces in your passport. I imagine there are places where you do not want to show an ID.

My DDS card got me £5,000 off a new car. I also use it when I go for lunch with my sons and grandchildren (one of my sons has also got one) for 20% off at Frankie & Benny's which the little ones love; free balloons etc.

Not sure what a Veterans ID card could offer in the way of additional benefits ? My surgery ask all registered patients for proof of service iaw government policy, although the struggle to get appointments isn't any easier. When I was in hospital undergoing treatment for cancer and malnututrition nobody asked whenther I was a Veteran and I can't see how the care I received would have been enhanced if they had.

NEO

NEO, I have a card and it works. I think it is novelty value. It is supposedly to give me priority, within medical need, and only in relation to my service related disabilities. When it worked for me was unrelated in A&E. The receptionist were busy nattering. Their conversation was more important; there was a 4 hour wait so I could waiting until they were ready.

I snappy the card on the counter; I was seen by a consultant within an hour☺

I was a 'Government Official', even after demob. Then the passport ran out and I had to get a new one.

I often wonder if at renewal, I'd lied, would anyone have checked?

I think it is all so simple. If it saves me any money at all - great and it's all so simple. If you are offered but want to decline yours you've guessed it- it's all so simple. Nobody really cares if you want one or you don't,
but in all honesty, why bother bleating about it. It's all so simple.

We had to change ours to Government Service.

Are there any left you'd want to shop at?

Veteran's ID
 

Good Luck with that.
When i was in uniform, it was the norm to be charged 10% Extra for everything and in some cases be denied services, because i was a service man.
Obviously things have changed. Maybe.
Ex.