4Real Forums: Question for military families

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Topic: Question for military families

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anitamarie
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Joined: Oct 15 2008
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Posted: Jan 07 2011 at 10:13pm \| IP Logged

My dh is developing an internet-based business and would like to offer a discount to military families. How is this usually handled? How is it confirmed or validated that the person/family is military?

TIA!

Anita

guitarnan
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Posted: Jan 07 2011 at 11:16pm \| IP Logged

Anita, please thank your husband for his wish to help out military families with a discount.

I'm not sure how he would be able to verify eligibility, though. In a brick-and-mortar world, this is done by checking military ID cards (they come in a few formats, and all active duty military and family members over age 10 have them - reservists and retirees have ID cards, too). My ID card has my photo, my SSN, my husband's information, my identifying characteristics and an expiration date. There is a bar code on the back but as far as I know it is only used for official purposes. My husband's ID card looks different and has more features.

I suppose your husband could ask for a fax or scan of the ID card; he could match it to the customer's credit card information...but that would present some other problems. I would not want to fax my SSN to a business office, for one thing, so I'm guessing other military family members would not do this, either. Some of the info on the ID card is Privacy Act information, too. (That means it can be used only for official purposes, such as military recordkeeping; your husband could not retain it or use it without official permission.)

However, there are other ways to support military members and their families. Perhaps your husband could consider donating some of his profits to the Wounded Warrior Project, the USO or another reputable nonprofit that supports service members? The Wounded Warrior Project helps service members who are recovering from all kinds of injuries - it's a great organization. The USO provides airport lounges (with computers, food, helpful info, phone cards, etc.), info, discounts, morale-boosting activities and much more to service members and their families around the world. I know we have other 4Real members who are military wives; perhaps they can suggest other groups worthy of a donation.

I really appreciate your husband's wish to help military families. Gestures like his mean the world to a family trying to get by on a junior enlisted salary, to the spouse of a deployed service member who wonders if anyone cares about her husband's/his wife's sacrifice, to a vet who's battled wounds and indifference for decades. Thanks so much! Your post made my day.

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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.

crusermom
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Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 9:42am \| IP Logged

I don't know how big a business he has or how any of this works, but I know that some smaller business offer discounts through the AAFEES website.

But I agree with Nancy, it is so nice to see people supporting military families!

Fisher House is another great organization that provides a home away from home for the families of the wounded.

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Mary

Army wife and Crusermom to 8 wonderful children!

anitamarie
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Posted: Jan 11 2011 at 1:44pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for your responses and the information. I'll pass it along to him. We both truly appreciate the sacrifices your families make and are in utter awe of all you. Please accept our thanks.

God Bless,

Anita

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