Hello. I am going to be shipping out for basic training Nov. 13th and am currently in DEP. My wife and I are currently approx. about 25k - 30k in debt the majority of which are medical bills. She is currently pregnant with our second child and i'm the sole earner of the family. I already having a difficult time paying just the basic bills ( rent, elect, car ins, car pymnt ). I have been working extra hours at my job just to have some extra cash but I have to overdraw my checking account every pay period to make sure the bills are paid and my wife and daughter have food to eat. I'm freaking out now because in 3 weeks I will be gone and don't know if the income I will be making while at basic will be enough for her and my 11 month old to survive on. Also i'm worried that I will not be able to get security clearance with that much debt. I was going to file bankruptcy prior to leaving but my recruiter said that I would never get clearance if I went that route. I've spoken with a Credit Counseling Specialist and she suggested that I file Bankruptcy based on the grounds that I don't generate enough monthly income to go on a debt mgmt plan. I'm terrified. Not only am I dealing with feeling issues of abandoning my family, I have to also strees over my wife not being able to pay the rent, and myself not being able to get clearance. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated. - Sorry so long.
You need to ask yourself what your priorities are. If your family's financial well being is more important than having a security clearance then file bankruptcy. In the military, an E-3 with a security clearance gets paid the same as an E-3 without it. Furthermore, your recruiter is clearly not informed on the actual guidelines of getting a security clearance. Go to this website and read through the gouge there. Based on the information provided, I don't see that a bankruptcy would prevent you from getting a security clearance.
Thank you for the link MortgageGuru. I really don't know what I should do. I'm so on edge as you could imagine. My ship date is coming up, have a lot of other things on my mind. I'm just overwhelmed. Me personally can give two *&^$^# about finances. I'm use to doing what needs to be done to survive. If it means going without food and having the electricity turned off, then so be it. Unfortunately, I don't have that ability with a wife and most certainly with an infant. I'm really considering bankruptcy, I have hopes on trying to get into the Advanced NAVY Programs ( NUKE ). I've been through hell just during the enlistment process. I can't afford to screw it all up now. I figured perhaps once I get to " A " school I would try to get a part-time job so I can start trying to get out of debt. I'm hearing different things from different ppl on that one. " Can't work while in " A " school - Can' work just so long as it does't interfere with training, duty, or military life in general ". I want to crawl under a rock till my ship date. lol.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: dicubyrds,
Man you just got to go file bankruptcy and get on with it. You are filing for responsible reasons and that is acceptable per the guidelines listed on the linked page. Why are you even considering having your children starve? Go file for BK and get it done with or majority of before you leave for boot camp. You are not going to have time to work while in A school even if you are allowed to (which you won't be).
I'm thinking you're right. I'm just so stressed out about messing up my career in the military. Like i've said, i've been through hell just trying to get in. I went to MEPS 7 times before they got me in DEP. I don't want to jeoprodize anything. Anything the recruiters are telling now has me nervous. I figured they wouldn't let me work in A school. I have to figure out something though. I've held two full time jobs and have gone to school and maintained a 3.0 GPA before so I know i can commit to my studies with no problem. It's just a matter of what type of job will work with my military schedule. I don't believe i have enough time to file for bankruptcy any longer either. 3 weeks isn't enough to even get the paperwork done from what i understand.
The word bankruptcy does not appear in the Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information. People are not denied clearances because they absolved themselves of their debts through a chapter 7 bankruptcy or sought debt relief under the wage earner plan (chapter 13 bankruptcy). People are denied security clearances because they fail to act responsibly in their financial dealings.
Bankruptcy laws exist for a reason. If you have a viable plan for getting out of debt, go with it. If you don't, consider a chapter 13 bankruptcy. If that won't work for you then go with a chapter 7. Don't worry about timing, the bankruptcy lawyer will know how to handle that problem.
SCM, thanks for the advice. You and Guru have provided me with great information. I'm going to be contacting a lawyer this week to see what my options are. It's good that I already have gotten noticed from a credit counselor stating that I should file bankruptcy. Hopefully I can qualify for Chapter 7 or I will be paying back my debts years into the future. I don't need any credit for the next couple of years anyway. I'll be renting for the next 6-8 years and most likely, I will be re-enlisting once that time is up. Well, thanks again guys. I feel a little more assured that things will be ok.
