I am entering my junior year at the Naval Academy and therefore have access to USAA's career starter loan. It is 36k at 0.75% interest across 5 years with a 6 month deferment after commissioning (May 2026). I (gratefully) have very supportive parents and therefore have no outstanding CC debt (utilizing SCRA/MLA through the Amex platinum/gold) and a used car passed down to me. I have gotten a lot of varying guidance across several sources and just want to collect more perspective on what I should do with the loan/should I take it out.

    I have a ROTH IRA I started investing in high school (had a job with W2) with some financial support from my parents as well. It is currently invested in a few blue-chip stocks and is at 12k. I will likely diversify it later with the powerful ETFs vanguard has but figured my risk tolerance was high at the moment so I went with the stocks. (Paid off as I got into NVDA around 600 or so?)

    I know I eventually want to utilize the VA loan after graduating to get into real estate but I don't have any other investment related thoughts besides the TSP (after graduating) at the moment. Not sure if this is relevant but I am 20 and am local to the Naval Academy. Thanks again for any insight, there is always a lot of good guidance offered from these posts.

    the usual career starter loan question
    byu/Same_Half_5738 inMilitaryFinance



    Posted by Same_Half_5738

    Leave A Reply
    Share via