Are you a member of the military enrolled in a dance group in Williamson County, Texas? If so, you may be eligible for discounts on certain products and services. This article will explore the various discounts available to military members and how to access them. The United States government has an official website, The.gov, which is used to share sensitive information. Products such as cigarettes can be promoted by sponsoring events, creating a public presence for the product.
Sponsorship is based on the loyalties and associations that customers already have and can be more powerful than advertising since it does not trigger the same skepticism. Consumers may even pay to participate in sponsored events, even if they would otherwise avoid them. Tobacco use has long been associated with military service and the Department of Defense (DOD) sells tobacco products through police stations and exchanges located on military bases. Prices have been raised to within 5% of the local retail price, but no state or local taxes are applied.
Profits from tobacco products help fund morale, well-being and recreation (MWR) programs. MWR is responsible for promoting the physical, mental and social well-being of the military and their families through programs such as sports, child development and youth programs. The sponsorship of major events at military bases began in 1981 when Brown & Williamson (B&W) expanded their Kool Jazz festivals to military bases. According to a summary of B&W from the first year of the program, the military was “practically an intact market for this type of activity”.
In 1983, more than 40 concerts were held at bases in West Germany and on an aircraft carrier. In 1984, more bases in West Germany, Panama, Guam, and Okinawa were added to the list of locations abroad. Company staff distributed cigarettes at these events (100,000 sample packs) in 5 bases in 1981 as well as premiums. A beach fair at the San Diego Naval Training Center resulted in “young Marines from around the world wearing Newport 'Alive with Pleasure' baseball shirts and caps”.
In 1986, Directive 1010.10 was issued which prohibited most tobacco sponsorship but the response was mixed. The Director of Operations of the Army Police Station and the Commander of the Air Force Police Station issued directives restricting promotional activity in stores. Like Newport, Marlboro used branded vans to distribute samples or coupons which lasted until the end of the 1990s. In 1994 and 1995, the Marlboro van participated in more than 36,000 events; it is unknown how many of them were aimed at military audiences.
RJR's “Exchange Initiative Program” (EIP) held events at base locations such as NCOs and enlisted clubs as well as bars and nightclubs near bases that served young military personnel. We identified nearly 200 events held at the base during the 2 years of the EIP, 1990—1991 and 124 outside the base. EIP events at the base included concerts, air shows, bowling nights, Super Bowl parties, golf tournaments, Halloween parties and beach picnics among others. Some commanders tried to restrict the activity of tobacco companies.
In the first year of KSN's concerts, Fort Sill required B&W to use coupons instead of samples while Barksdale Air Base opposed sampling until there were no restrictions in Barksdale. In May 1988, two months after sponsorship rules were relaxed, the commander of the naval base in Guantánamo Bay reaffirmed that events could only be sponsored by tobacco or alcohol companies if the name of the product was not associated with the event. During the 1980s and 1990s, tobacco companies provided military bases around the world with branded entertainment aimed at staff and their families and dependents with intensive cigarette marketing. So what discounts are available for members of the military enrolled in a dance group in Williamson County? The answer depends on what type of product or service you are looking for but there are some general discounts available for all members of the military regardless of location or branch.
Many businesses offer discounts on products or services such as clothing or travel for active duty personnel or veterans. In addition to these general discounts there may also be specific discounts available for members enrolled in a dance group in Williamson County. It is best to contact your local dance group or organization to find out what discounts they may offer or if they know about any other discounts available in your area. It is important to remember that discounts are not always advertised so it is always worth asking if any discounts are available when making a purchase or signing up for a service.
Being a member of the military can be both rewarding and challenging but there are many benefits available that can help make life easier for those who serve our country. Discounts are just one way that businesses show their appreciation for those who serve our country so take advantage of them whenever possible.
