This AP story popped up in my email today about Chicago’s public transit authority deciding whether to offer military discounts across the board to active military who ride. Someone spoke up and mentioned that reservists and guardsmen should also benefit from the discount.
It’s an interesting argument. When Cliff was “just” a reservist, before being activated for deployment, there were a few instances where we thought about looking for a military discount, only to learn that he had to be in active status to qualify. His monthly weekend drills and two to three week ATs (annual trainings) apparently weren’t enough to take off what would amount to the tax of whatever we were wanting to buy. Which brings up the potentially volatile question – are active and reserves equal? Ooo, yes, I did go there!
I think just like each branch of the military provides its own skills and talents and role to protecting our country, so do active service members and those serving in reserve and Guard roles. And while each come with their own set of special circumstances and challenges when dealing with their respective military life, each are serving their country and should be honored… equally.
While years ago, before 9/11, reservists were looked at as “weekend warriors,” that can no longer be said. The role of reservists and National Guardsmen has definitely changed and taken on more of a quasi-active role than once previously held. When you sign up as a reservist today, you know that the possibility of deployment is a whole lot greater than if you were to have signed up twenty years ago. And if you don’t, then you’re in denial.
It also can no longer be said that reservists and National Guard are here to protect our borders only – that is a myth today, because reservists are sent where they are needed, just like active servicemembers, and if it’s overseas, that’s where they go. Everyone is working for the common mission – to protect America and America’s interests, be it in the heart of the American plains, or the Middle East.
I did a quick search and I was pleased to see that in many instances, reserve and National Guard are included in military discounts offered by businesses. Military.com offers an enormous list of ways military and their families can save some money.
This deployment has changed my perspective I guess. I used to see us as a lower class of service, if you will, compared to active military. After all, we weren’t in it 24/7 like active military. Or so I thought. Actually, we were but I just didn’t realize it. We were on call, like a fireman or an emergency responder, in waiting status and when we are called, our servicemembers go and as families we wave goodbye.
We wave goodbye, wishing just like active families, to see our loved ones once more.
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Yep. Exactly. Been there.