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freelcpl t1_ivyzlkk wrote

Can you share some thoughts on career starter loan availability for Officers compared to the Enlisted personnel they manage?

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kajlarsen1 OP t1_ivz0vo3 wrote

Interesting question. Candidly I havent studied this that much. My assumption is that because officer base pay is higher, they have access to more capital, at least thats how I'd guess it works. My actual practical experience is that most financial products available to service members are borderline predatory, or in fact super predatory. (When I started Guild I mapped the distance from the front gate at Ft. Benning, GA where I attended Basic Airborne Parachutist School, to the the first used car dealership with a super high interest rate. It was .6 mi.)

Beyond the predation, I think theres a cultural issue, too. At USNA 2/C get that car loan (even though they are being paid an E-5 equivalent salary) and almost everyone takes it. Young service members buying cars outside their means is not a problem exclusive to the military community but its exacerbated by that consistent government paycheck that lenders love!

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freelcpl t1_ivz27ps wrote

Great insight! Base towns are all the same :(

It seems that the big “vet friendly” finance institutions squeeze the young crayon eaters with low volume high interest rate loans to offer bigger, lower interest rate loans to military leaders. It’s pretty traceable to when enlisted recruit “training” depots opened.

I’m Very thankful for your transparent approach to this issue!! 💪

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kajlarsen1 OP t1_ivz68wg wrote

Wow, this is fascinating. Im going to look deeper into this!

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