Can you join the military in debt?

When joining the Air Force, for example, recruits are subject to the "40 percent rule": Any recruit who's monthly consumer debts (not counting debts which can be deferred, such as student loans) exceeds 40 percent of his or her anticipated military pay is ineligible for enlistment.
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Does joining the military clear your debt?

Yes, but not for spouses. Unfortunately, there is no military student loan forgiveness for the spouses of service members. Your best bet is to utilize the military's spouse employment help to get a job and start paying off the debt the old-fashioned way.
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What disqualifies me from joining the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.
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Do you have to have good credit to join the military?

What credit score is needed to join the military? In general, the military isn't looking for a specific credit score when determining financial eligibility, but excessive debt or delinquent payments could be a red flag for further discussions with your recruiter.
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What happens if you have debt in the military?

Military personnel who have trouble handling their personal finances can very quickly find their duty status, potential promotions and even military careers in jeopardy. And, over time, the lingering burden of debt can add stress to their personal relationships and damage their credit profile.
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Joining The Military With Debt



Does the army care about debt?

Credit Checks and Military Branches

Excessive debt obligations that exceed half of the annual salary of the pay grade of the recruit can prevent enlistment. If debt includes mortgage debt, the total debt must not be more than two-and-a-half times the annual salary of the recruit.
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How much debt is too much?

Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high.
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How do you know if a soldier is real?

Verification of Military Service

Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. The site is available 24-hours a day.
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How do you build credit in the military?

How to build your credit score while serving in the military
  1. Payment History. This makes up the biggest percentage of a FICO score at approximately 35%. ...
  2. Amounts Owed. ...
  3. Length of Credit History. ...
  4. Credit Mix. ...
  5. New Credit. ...
  6. Be picky about who you bank with. ...
  7. Choose the right credit card. ...
  8. Stay on top of payments.
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Do you have to pay student loans while in the military?

Military deferment is available for federal student loans if you're serving on active duty or if you're in the National Guard either deployed, or full-time and your service is during a time of war, military operation or national emergency.
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Why do people get rejected from the military?

The reasons the Army won't accept you are numerous; they include age and weight restrictions, medical and criminal histories, and even certain tattoos, according to the team at We Are the Mighty. Similar reasons exist for the other branches, as well.
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What happens if you lie to your recruiter?

If you're lucky, you'll simply get an administrative, other than honorable, or dishonorable discharge. If you're unlucky, you could be convicted of a felony, punishable by a $10,000 fine and three years in prison. All of this is clearly spelled out in your enlistment documents.
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Can I join the reserves with debt?

The short answer is that you usually can't join the military with debt if you can't meet your financial obligations to pay back your debt. If you have any of these debt problems, then you will most likely have problems joining the military.
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Can you join the military with college debt?

The Army, Navy and Air Force offer programs to help soldiers pay back their student loans. For applicants who qualify, the Army will pay up to ​$65,000​ of student loans, as will the Navy, although the Navy earmarks payments for loans taken to fund post-secondary education.
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Can you build credit while in the Army?

To establish credit early on, Lebenthal suggests military members apply for a credit card or two, perhaps even financing a car through an auto loan. However, he's not advocating racking up a bunch of debt. “Have a sensible amount of debt so that the credit-reporting agencies have a track record on you,” said Lebenthal.
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How do Marines build credit?

How to Gradually Build Your Credit Score
  1. Understand Your Credit Score. To build up your credit score, you need to know what kind of factors it takes into account. ...
  2. Don't Be Late. ...
  3. Student Loans Can Help. ...
  4. Utilize Your Credit Cards Responsibly. ...
  5. Get a Secured Credit Card.
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How do I build my credit while on deployment?

To keep your credit up while you're deployed:
  1. Meet with your PFM to plan your finances for your deployment.
  2. Set up automatic bill pay programs, such as allotments.
  3. Give someone you trust – your spouse or parent – access to your credit accounts.
  4. If you're deploying, set up an active duty alert to protect your accounts.
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Does scammer do video call?

Scammers can fake video calls. Someone who keeps putting off the video call may be shy—or you may be. So another alternative is to ask questions that expose him. You'll know what they are.
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What do military guys look for in a girl?

He Wants You To Be Independent And Individual Since he will be deployed to other places for longer periods, he wants you to be an independent woman and someone who can survive without him.
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Can military make video calls?

Many military installations overseas also offer free video conferencing to their service members. Facebook and other forms of social media can be terrific vehicles to communicate with your service member, family, and friends. Posting photos and deployment updates can streamline and personalize all communication.
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Is 30k a lot of debt?

Many people would likely say $30,000 is a considerable amount of money. Paying off that much debt may feel overwhelming, but it is possible. With careful planning and calculated actions, you can slowly work toward paying off your debt.
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How much debt is normal?

According to a 2020 Experian study, the average American carries $92,727 in consumer debt. Consumer debt includes a variety of personal credit accounts, such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and student loans.
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