My husband joined the Air Force. He is in the DEPS program now until the end of April. He was given an EOD contract, but we have a huge amount of credit card debt (around 30,000). We are falling behind fast. He hasn't been working for 3 months now, and things were hard when we had two incomes. He has been looking for jobs, but he cannot find one. We're considering a few options. The first is to file bankruptcy. He's pretty sure that the air force will not take him if we end up filing, but that the army or marines might. I was also thinking about maybe a debt management program? Does anyone have any advice?
2007-01-02 02:35:52 · 10 answers · asked by Erin B 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Will a debt management program have an impact on security clearance?
2007-01-02 02:51:48 · update #1
He scored very high on that test he had to take, and they worked really hard at finding him an OED job. At the time we wern't behind on our credit card bills, and we just met the financial requirements to get in.
2007-01-02 02:53:45 · update #2
His recruiter was sure that he was going to be leaving in the middle of janurary when he went down to meps and all that. Then he couldn't get him a contract until April. If my husband doesn't get a job by April, there will defenitly be collection agencies involved by then. I have 700 dollars in minimum payments before all the late payments and over the limit fees. I only make 1100, and we have a house payment, car payment, electric bill.
2007-01-02 02:56:47 · update #3
Do not file for bankruptcy. If I remember correctly EOD requires a secret clearance and with a bankruptcy he is pretty much guaranteed to be ineligible. The Marines and the Army will take prior bankruptcies but they have to be in the distant past and you are only going to get a complete crap job. Get on the internet and look for financial advisors who can steer you in the right direction or look into debt management. Talk to the recruiter and tell him the situation if doesn't already know. Play HARDBALL!!!!!!!! Recruiters are shady because they have to make mission each month. AKA they have a quota each month and he is probably full every month until April so he pushed your husband to April so he can fill his quota for that month. I have never heard of the military not being able to ship at the recruits request. Make sure you are waiting for a reason!!! I knew recruiters who can sit you down on a monday and ship you by wednesday! I would even push for your husband to sign another job if it will help him leave quicker and keep you two out of the poorhouse. Also, recruiters can work miracles if they are going to lost a potential recruit! Tell him if your husband doesn't ship sooner you are going to walk. Most likely, a plane ticket will magically appear!
Lastly, what type of job is he trying to get in the meantime? I know McDonald's doesn't pay much but they are always hiring and it is just temporary. It's not like he is going to be doing anything more glamorous than that in basic training.
2007-01-02 05:07:12 · answer #1 · answered by SL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really have an answer to your question, just some advice. I was in the AF (4 years). They really come down hard on soldiers that have financial problems. He can get into even more trouble if he can't find a way to manage his debt. They actually take disciplinary action against airmen who are not paying their bills. And bill collectors know this, so they really go after military folks who are in debt. My advice would be to continue entry into the Air Force, but to be very frugile and not make a lot of expensive purchases. Concentrate on paying the bills off first.
2007-01-02 02:51:22 · answer #2 · answered by Mick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In any branch of the service, credit problems could be a show stopper. It would hurt his chances of getting a security clearance for future promotions. Debt Management would be the way to go.
The military is a good choice. You will always be taken care of as far as medical, food, housing, and childcare. The military does a great job of taking care of its own.
As far as which branch, one thing to consider is the initial sign on bonus. That could equal as much as $20,000 up front in some instances.
Make sure you take a look at all of them first.
It's not a bad life. I've been doing it for 21 years, now.
2007-01-02 02:55:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has he talked to his Recuiter and made it very clear that he wants to go ASAP? But be careful before you do this and understand what could happen.
When our son enlisted in 2003, he wanted to go right that minute. He has absoltely NO patience. Anyway, on October 27th his security clearence came through. He wasn't supposed to leave until May 21st. He was very clear to the Recruiter that he wanted to go sooner. Anyway, the next day, on the 28th, he got a call from MEPS. He shipped out on the 30th with 39 hours notice. A Recruit going into the same program as our son had been in a car accident and couldn't go so our son got his spot. So, you never know what may happen. Just be prepared. I think he showed up at MEPS with about 15 minutes sleep with all the things he had to take care of before he left. Luckily, because of the circumstances, he got to stay at home his last night and we took him to MEPS instead of having to stay with the rest of the Recruits leaving that same day.
By the way, the boy in the accident was fine and able to ship out in our son's original spot in May after he recovered from a knee injury.
Good luck!
2007-01-02 04:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by NavyMomSS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
debt management is a better choice. yeah, you credit will get screwed up but you can fix that easily. Filing for bankruptcy will haunt you for a lot longer then a bad credit rating.
Either way, he will need to tell the recruiter about any changes in his status. This includes his financial status. Last thing you want is to surprise the military. Keep them informed and they will help.
12 years active duty
2007-01-02 02:56:38 · answer #5 · answered by Raptork9 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't file bankruptcy! Go online and read about Soldiers' & Sailors' Civil Relief Act. This pertains to any debt you have prior to enlisting! This will bring all your high interest rates down and making your debt more managable! His recruiter should of told him this?? Good luck..
2007-01-02 08:57:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I enlisted in the AF in May of06 and i had a small debt on my credit and they over looked it because my credit showed i had been making payments on it. credit is a big thing but try to pay at least the min. and they might let him in like they did me. as far as the army and the marines he will have to go through pretty much the same thing hope it helped
2007-01-02 04:25:50 · answer #7 · answered by daniel l 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the military will probably take him, however, he will not get a security clearance, and that may affect his job selection. Im not sure what clearance is required for EOD, but there are plenty of jobs that require no clearance. At worst, he may have to reclass into another MOS.
2007-01-02 02:40:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go with the Debt Mgnt.
2007-01-02 02:46:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/allhands/bldebt.htm
Read this article. I hope that you can can get this resolved. Best of Luck!
2007-01-02 03:02:01 · answer #10 · answered by michelle a 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋