Private College Student Loan

Which branch of the military should I join for student loan forgiveness?

I still don't have my degree because I dropped out of college about 9 credits short to pursue another career field that has left me laid off for over a year now. I have around $100k in student loans. I heard the Navy and Army offer up to $65,000 in student loan forgiveness. One recruiter said just finish the 9 credits and try for OCS but I have no money for that and my GPA is horrid for OCS. Plus I heard student loan forgiveness doesn't apply if you get into OCS. I heard if I joined the Army I would leave basic an E-4 (is that specialist or corporal?) and if I joined the Navy, an E-3. Obviously Army basic would be harder than the Navy or AF but which is tougher, Lackland or Great Lakes?

Public Comments

1. Army they will pay off your student loan as enlisted. The Army will even pay off your student loan if you have graduated and wanted to become an officer. I doubt they would pay it all because you have a large sum. As long as your GPA is 2.0 you can become an officer in the Army. Next time choose a cheaper school. You can always apply to a different school to get your last few credits, and transfer those back to your original school to get your degree. Nine credits isn't enough to graduate at a different school.
2. Well, the keyword is UP to 65k. Just letting you know you will get somewhere around 20-40k if you enlist in the Army. If you join the Army with more than 48 semester credits, you will be promoted to E-3 (PFC) before you leave for basic. If you finish those 9 credits and get the bachelors degree, you will be promoted to E-4 (Specialist). E-4 has two different ranks within the paygrade. Specialist is junior enlisted, Corporal is a non-commissioned officer (which means they can command squads, etc). Can't speak for the other branches other than the pay is the same between all branches. During basic, if you are an E-3 you'll make 1758 a month. An E-4 will make 1946 a month. I know people who have gone through both navy and AF training. It's not a cakewalk, but it's set up for you to succeed. One other thing, look into the Army's civilian acquired skills program, they might take you depending on what qualifications you have. (I think it's mostly medical, psychological, etc, stuff)
3. If you have not finished your bachelor's, you will not come in the Army as an E-4. You would be an E-3. if you finish, you would be a Specialist. Corporal is a leadership position that you wouldn't get into unless you've shown the potential to be a Sergeant and meet other criteria.
4. there is a difference between forgiveness and repayment. not every job qualifies for loan repayment. the max payout is $65K but you have to realize that not every branch does the full payout.. the Navy pretty much tops out of $45K and again, only for a couple of ratings. the AF offers a whopping $10K. payments are made in 3 installments not to begin until after your training is complete. interest still accrues and they only pay off the original loan amount.. you are still liable for all interest and late fees accrued. loan FORGIVENESS is based on the lender and is offered to those who pursue certain things like volunteering for Doctors without Borders and stuff. the Army will only grant E4 with a DEGREE conferred. since you do not have a degree you only qualify for E3. as for toughness: its all relative. plenty of people can't hack AF BT which is widely considered to be the least.. difficult physically,