Military folks are music to a potential lender’s ears. 

Not only do you have a steady (and relatively guaranteed) paycheck coming in twice a month, but there is a definite chain of command that lenders can follow if you default on your obligation.  In other words, lenders can’t really call a civilian’s boss and give them grief about a subordinate’s missed payment, but in the military setting lenders can – and will – call supervisors and First Sergeants if someone under them isn’t paying as scheduled.

Creditors also know that military folks are supposed to keep their financial affairs in order, so even though some active duty people turn to bankruptcy it’s generally frowned upon within the military culture.

All combined, this paints an attractive picture to potential lenders because:

1.  They can be pretty sure you aren’t going to lose your job unexpectedly.

2.  They know you are accountable to someone higher ranking, and they can call this person if necessary.

3.  They assume that you are less likely to declare bankruptcy.

The next time you see an offer for a credit card or loan that makes the claim that they are doing some sort of patriotic duty by granting credit to military folks, take it with a grain of salt.  You are much more attractive to lenders than you may think, even if you have a couple of blemishes on your credit report.