Military Deals

“Recognizing your commitment with one of our own.”

The men and women of the U.S. Military are devoted to giving their all in the line of duty. In recognition of this bravery, the GM Military Discount is their promise to give service members the vehicle savings they deserve. Read on to start saving hundreds, even thousands, on a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac — with our lasting gratitude.

Find out about their discounts here

From PCS moves to vacations to cross-country trips to visit friends and relatives, military families rarely stay put for long. That’s why we’re always on the lookout for cheap places to stay during those times when we’re not at home.

Here are some great deals for military families to find cheap lodging on the go:

Installation Lodging

Most military installations offer temporary, space-available lodging for low prices, such as Navy Lodges, Air Force Inns, Army Lodging, Inns of the Corps. These facilities are typically geared toward service members traveling on orders or families who are PCSing. Reservation policies vary between service branches and facilities so call ahead for more information.

Armed Forces Recreation Centers

Thinking about organizing a unique vacation? Stationed overseas and wondering where you can stay while exploring a new country? Check into AFRCs.

Armed Forces Recreation Centers, or AFRCs, are Joint Service Facilities operated by the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs. These affordable full-service resort hotels are located at vacation destinations throughout the world, and they’re available to service members and their families. Room rates are based on rank, pay grade, duty status, room size, and/or room location. Try to make your reservations well in advance because the facilities tend to fill up quickly.

Where exactly are these AFRCs located?

Probably the best known AFRC is the Shades of Green Resort, which is in Orlando, Florida within Walt Disney World. Not only do you get affordable prices on room rates, but you can also get discounted tickets for all Disney World venues, complimentary bus transportation to the Disney World Theme parks, and early entry into select parks.

The other AFRCs include the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, Korea, and the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Another option is the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, which is operated by the Navy.

Military Campgrounds

Are you looking for more of an outdoor adventure for your overnight needs? Some military installations have cottages, cabins, and townhomes that can be used for vacation rentals. And some bases even have military campgrounds and RV parks that provide things like BBQ areas, laundry and play areas for the kids.

Military Discounts at Hotels

For those times when your travels take you nowhere near a military installation, plan your overnight stay at hotels that offer military discounts. Many hotels offer military rates, including:

• Best Western
• Choice Hotels
• Comfort Inn
• Embassy Suites
• Hampton
• Hawthorn Suites
• Hilton Hotels and Resorts
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• La Quinta
• Marriott
• Motel 6
• Red Lion Hotels
• Red Roof Inn
• Sleep Inn

But even if you find a hotel that doesn’t advertise a military discount, make sure to ask for one. You never know. That cute little bed and breakfast you stumbled upon might give you a discount just for asking.

Military families are always on the go. That’s why they’re always on the lookout for cheap airline flights to make travel easier on their bank accounts.

One cheap way to fly is Space Available, or Space A. However, these flights frequently change and seats aren’t always available, so your schedule has to be very flexible. (Visit Air Mobility Command for more information on Space A flights.)

Fortunately, there are several airlines that offer military discounts on airfare. Keep in mind that some of these discounts are unadvertised and may not be available online, so be prepared to call the airlines directly to ask about their military rates.

Whether you’re traveling on orders or for leisure, you can find discounted rates on flights as well as discounts on checked baggage with the following airlines. (And don’t forget that TSA also salutes the military by offering expedited screening. Learn more at the TSA website.)

Airfare

Delta

Delta Air Lines has a long history of offering special rates for military personnel. They also offer special fares to family members traveling to meet an active duty service member. Call their reservations team and ask for the military desk.

JetBlue

JetBlue’s MIL fare allows active duty service personnel and their immediate family (spouses or children) to fly on JetBlue. Call 1-800-JETBLUE.

Southwest

Southwest offers military discounts to active military personnel and their families. Contact Southwest directly to take advantage of the discount.

Norfolk International Airport

The airlines serving Norfolk International Airport offer discounts to military travelers and their dependents. Call the airlines directly for information about schedules and fares and to make reservations.

Baggage

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers active duty military up to five free checked bags. This discount also applies to military dependents on travel orders.

Allegiant Airlines

Allegiant offers active duty military, Reservists and National Guard up to three pieces of checked baggage under 100 pounds for free and no charge for oversized checked baggage. Veterans and dependents of active duty or Reserve military, and National Guard get up to three pieces of checked baggage under 40 pounds for free and no charge for oversized checked baggage.

American Airlines

Active duty military personnel traveling on orders can check up to five complimentary bags (up to 100 pounds). When traveling for pleasure, you can check up to three complimentary bags (up to 50 pounds). Military dependents traveling on orders have the same privileges as military personnel.

Delta

Active duty military personnel traveling on orders may check up to five bags in Delta One/First class and five bags in Basic Economy up to 100 pounds. On military orders, your bags can be 80 inches (total length + width + height). For personal travel, active military may also check up to three bags in Delta One/First class (up to 70 pounds) and two bags in Basic Economy (up to 50 pounds). For personal travel, your bags can be 62 inches (total length + width + height).

JetBlue

Active military personnel and their dependents traveling on military orders are allowed to check five bags each at no additional cost. Active military personnel and their dependents traveling for leisure are allowed to check two bags each at no additional cost.

College Funding Assistance Comes from State Programs

The men and women who serve in the United States Military make remarkable sacrifices for their country. But the sacrifices of their families, particularly their children, often get overlooked. Children with a parent in the military may spend much of their childhood with an absent mother or father. Even when the family is not separated, children may spend a large portion of their school years moving from military base to military base, changing schools with each new deployment.

While there is no way to truly repay the service given the country by military personnel and their families, at the very least it is possible to provide financial assistance to those military children who are struggling to meet the rising costs of college tuition. Providing scholarships for the children of military service-personnel is one small way in which the people of the United States say thank you to the dedicated members of the armed forces and their families.

College Funding Assistance Comes from State Programs

Each state in the country has a department of higher education, and an office of veterans affairs. Most states offer some form of financial aid for the college aged children of military service-members. State sponsored scholarships are common for the children of active-duty, retired and deceased military personnel. Each state will offer its own programs, and each program will have its own distinctive set of requirements. Students are encouraged to contact their state’s Department of Higher Education, or Office of Veteran’s Affairs, to learn about scholarship programs for which they may be eligible.

The following selection of state supported scholarships for the children of military service-members will give students an idea of the types of programs that may be available in their state.

• The Iowa War Orphans Scholarship provides financial assistance to the children of military personnel who were killed in combat. Applicants must have maintained an Iowa residency for at least 2 years, and must be enrolled at an approved state college, university or technical school. The annual award is $600. Students may reapply every year in which they meet eligibility requirements. Total lifetime awards can not exceed $3000.
• The Minnesota State War Orphans Education Program provides tuition assistance to the biological or adopted children of military servicemen and women who have been killed in combat, or who have died as a result of wounds received while in combat. Applicants must be current residents of Minnesota, and must be attending an approved state college, university or technical school. Annual awards are $750. The scholarships is non-renewable, though students may reapply every year in which they meet eligibility requirements.
• The Montana Department of Military Affairs supports a number of programs for the dependent children of military service personnel.Current programs include Scholarships for the Dependents of POW/MIA’s and Scholarships for the Children of Deceased Veterans. Applicants must be residents of Montana, and must be enrolled at an accredited state college or university.
• The Texas Hazlewood Act provides up to 150 hours of tuition assistance to the dependent children of military veterans who were killed while on active duty. Applicants must be residents of the state of Texas, and must be between the ages of 18 and 25. To be eligible, students must not be receiving any other Federal Veteran Education Benefits.

Scholarship Opportunities Direct from the Armed Forces

Each branch of the United States Military offers scholarship, grants and tuition assistance for their enlisted personnel. Much of this financial aid also extends to the dependent children of active-duty, retired, disabled and deceased service-members. The following examples highlight the variety of programs directly supported by the armed forces themselves.

• The Survivors and Dependents Assistance Program is supported by the U.S. Army, and offers financial assistance to the dependent children of Army personnel who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. The program also provides financial aid to children of personnel listed as missing in action, or declared prisoners of war. The program provides 45 hours of tuition assistance to eligible students enrolled in approved undergraduate, graduate or vocational studies.
• The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program provides financial assistance to the college-bound children of active-duty and retired Air Force personnel. Awards are determined on the basis of need. Maximum grant allowances currently stand at $2000.
• The Scholarship for Air Force Enlisted Member’s Dependent Children is supported by the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Airmen Memorial Foundation. The program provides scholarships to the children of active-duty, retired and veteran Air Force personnel. Awards are determined by academic achievement, and community service. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $3000.
• The NMCRS Gold Star Scholarship is supported by the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society. The scholarship program provides financial assistance to the children of Navy and Marine personnel who were killed in the line of duty. Applicants must demonstrate the requisite level of financial need, and must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Awards range from $500 to $2500 per academic year.
• The Scholarships for Military Children Program provides scholarships to the children of active-duty, retired, deceased or reservist military personnel. The program is administered through the commissaries of military bases around the world. Each commissary awards one $1500 scholarship per year. Eligible students must be under the age of 21, and must be enrolled full time at an accredited college or university.
• The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill & Marine Gunnery Sgt. John David Fry Scholarship is sponsored in cooperation with the Freedom Alliance. The scholarship provides educational benefits to the children of military personnel who were killed, or disabled, in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Awards amounts vary, and can be applied at any accredited college, university or technical school.

The sacrifices made by military families can only really be understood by those who have experienced them. As outsiders we can sympathize, but never totally empathize, with the challenges they face on a regular basis. Scholarships, grants and tuition assistance programs are a small way of paying tribute to the dedication and selflessness of military servicemen and women, and their families.

The financial aid programs discussed here are only a sampling of the education benefits available to the dependent children of military personnel. Students can find more information through their college’s office of financial aid, and through their state’s Office of Veteran’s Affairs.