Military Service and Veteran Status

[Vol Texan]

Don,

Welcome to the forum. I only have one thing to add...why would you want to skip out on the range qualification? That's the most fun part of the day!

[Rhino1]

My wife submitted her renewal application a few weeks ago. In today's mail was a form from DPS requesting a copy of her DD-214. We submitted it at the time of the original CHL application. The current CHL says Veteran. Mailing a copy tomorrow but why does she have to send again? Like fingerprints, veteran status doesn't change.

[JALLEN]

Has the fee schedule changed in the last two years?

IIRC, when I moved here and got my permit, the fee was the same for veterans as for seniors. I am both, so paid one half of each.

BTW, the fees and aplication process is trivial compared to what I had to do in San Diego, and I was one of the lucky ones who could pass through the maze and get a permit. There are fewer than 2,000 in San Diego County last I heard.

[jmra]

Has the fee schedule changed in the last two years?

IIRC, when I moved here and got my permit, the fee was the same for veterans as for seniors. I am both, so paid one half of each.

BTW, the fees and aplication process is trivial compared to what I had to do in San Diego, and I was one of the lucky ones who could pass through the maze and get a permit. There are fewer than 2,000 in San Diego County last I heard.

I believe the fee change was effective Sep 1, 2013. $25 for Vets.

[txglock21]

Has the fee schedule changed in the last two years?

IIRC, when I moved here and got my permit, the fee was the same for veterans as for seniors. I am both, so paid one half of each.

BTW, the fees and aplication process is trivial compared to what I had to do in San Diego, and I was one of the lucky ones who could pass through the maze and get a permit. There are fewer than 2,000 in San Diego County last I heard.

I believe the fee change was effective Sep 1, 2013. $25 for Vets.

This is correct^^^. I applied for my CHL in January 2013 and paid the $70 fee for veterans and six months later they lowered it to the current $25. I'm not complaining though, it would have been worth paying the full $140 if I had to.

[JALLEN]

When I went for my Texas DL, I took one of my DD214s along, and had "VETERAN" appear on the DL.

I can't think of any real need for this, but it's been good for a couple of half off/free meals at Golden Coral etc. It's not as valuable as being a USAA member, but hey, every little bit helps, right? Everybody likes to be appreciated.

[Mel]

Veteran status is good for 10% off at Lowe's, Home Depot and quite a few other places. I've even gotten a nice discount at furniture stores, O'Reilly auto supply, and other places just by mentioning it.
I recently bought a battery for my tractor at O'Reilly's. I forgot to mention Veteran status. The clerk saw my "US Air Force" license plates and gave me the discount anyway.

[ScottDLS]

Veteran status is good for 10% off at Lowe's, Home Depot and quite a few other places. I've even gotten a nice discount at furniture stores, O'Reilly auto supply, and other places just by mentioning it.

Yes, I got it added to my DL for that reason...though I feel a little guilty since I wasn't in combat (unless you count dodging the crack dealers in Norfolk in the late '80's).

[MeMelYup]

Veteran status is good for 10% off at Lowe's, Home Depot and quite a few other places. I've even gotten a nice discount at furniture stores, O'Reilly auto supply, and other places just by mentioning it.

Yes, I got it added to my DL for that reason...though I feel a little guilty since I wasn't in combat (unless you count dodging the crack dealers in Norfolk in the late '80's).

In 1971 there were 60+ army guys stationed at Norfilk of which I was one. When you were there did they still have signs around the city hall saying "Sailors and dogs keep off grass?"

[JALLEN]

Veteran status is good for 10% off at Lowe's, Home Depot and quite a few other places. I've even gotten a nice discount at furniture stores, O'Reilly auto supply, and other places just by mentioning it.

Yes, I got it added to my DL for that reason...though I feel a little guilty since I wasn't in combat (unless you count dodging the crack dealers in Norfolk in the late '80's).

There is no occasion for guilt. I've been in the brotherhood, and these days sisterhood of sorts, of veterans since I enlisted in 1963. Except for certain medals and awards, I've never been aware of any distinction in status or treatment. We respect each other no matter, as long as it was honorable service. Whether you end up in combat is essentially random, a function of when you are in, what service you happened to pick, and the roll of the dice of fate. We were all exposed to the possibility, except the sisterhood of course.

There are Navy SEALS who have never been in combat. They've been in harm's way, but never shot at, or fired their weapon in anger. They may have been present in combat zones, participated in highly dangerous ops, but seen no action as most people think of that term. I believe my brother-in-law, a VN era SEAL who retired as a CAPT (O-6) is in that category. They snuck around at night, gathering Intel, avoided contact, spreading confusion and despair. He told me if they had to use their weapons, it meant that something had gone really, really wrong. That's not how he phrased it, but you know.

When I graduated from college and got my commission, I was ordered to shore duty in Coronado, CA, right in the middle of VN. Who knows why? My most dangerous duty was riding the Coronado Ferry and buying drinks for nurses. I never left CONUS. You just never know.

[Rhino1]

I agree. I used to go to church with a gentleman (who has since passed) that was on 2nd wave to hit the beaches at Iwo. He was on the island for 36 days. I flew F-4s in SEA. We had another young man who had been in the Corps at A&M, commissioned, and served 4 years active duty with 82nd. He felt like his service didn't count as much since he was between conflicts. I told him that was crap. He did serve and would have done whatever was required of him. I said the cook and the clerk-typist (showing my age) all served. I've heard that <2% of the U.S. population ever served. My comment is a uniform, "thanks for your service" regardless of MOS or AFSC.

[Taypo]

I agree. I used to go to church with a gentleman (who has since passed) that was on 2nd wave to hit the beaches at Iwo. He was on the island for 36 days. I flew F-4s in SEA. We had another young man who had been in the Corps at A&M, commissioned, and served 4 years active duty with 82nd. He felt like his service didn't count as much since he was between conflicts. I told him that was crap. He did serve and would have done whatever was required of him. I said the cook and the clerk-typist (showing my age) all served. I've heard that <2% of the U.S. population ever served. My comment is a uniform, "thanks for your service" regardless of MOS or AFSC.

From one of the guys who served but never saw combat, I definitely understand the "POG Guilt" syndrome. In the last couple decades, it seems like the vast majority of enlisted folks have done a turn in the sandbox and put their butts on the line. Those of us who didn't tend to talk down anything that we've done, regardless of the situation. It's like being the pitcher sitting on the bench, except the sane ones are glad we didn't get put into the game. There's some guilt there for a lot of guys, which is probably where the guilt and self-deprecating stuff comes from.

[G26ster]

I agree. I used to go to church with a gentleman (who has since passed) that was on 2nd wave to hit the beaches at Iwo. He was on the island for 36 days. I flew F-4s in SEA. We had another young man who had been in the Corps at A&M, commissioned, and served 4 years active duty with 82nd. He felt like his service didn't count as much since he was between conflicts. I told him that was crap. He did serve and would have done whatever was required of him. I said the cook and the clerk-typist (showing my age) all served. I've heard that <2% of the U.S. population ever served. My comment is a uniform, "thanks for your service" regardless of MOS or AFSC.

If you served, you served!

Rhino1: I flew Cobra gunships in SEA, and when the "Fox 4's" arrived on so many occasions, I never could figure why we didn't constantly run into each other in all the mayhem

[JALLEN]

I agree. I used to go to church with a gentleman (who has since passed) that was on 2nd wave to hit the beaches at Iwo. He was on the island for 36 days. I flew F-4s in SEA. We had another young man who had been in the Corps at A&M, commissioned, and served 4 years active duty with 82nd. He felt like his service didn't count as much since he was between conflicts. I told him that was crap. He did serve and would have done whatever was required of him. I said the cook and the clerk-typist (showing my age) all served. I've heard that <2% of the U.S. population ever served. My comment is a uniform, "thanks for your service" regardless of MOS or AFSC.

There it is, right there, how I have been treated and have treated others for the last more than 50 years.

[oohrah]