Hi, I would like to provide some help. I am a prior USAFA cadet dismissed in 2013. Owe $120,000. Know the struggle. I requested to serve enlisted and was denied, even though I should not have been. Hired a lawyer, I first went to a remissions board to dismiss debt based on my financial standing-DENIED.
Next step was the Air Force Board of Military Corrections- I actually received positive news that I was able to serve in the AF Reserve to fulfill my debt, this, however, is still unclear to me and I am currently working that out, they are currently telling me that I will have to go back to basic, a condition that I was unaware of, and at the age of 29, not something I particularly am thrilled about having to undertake again.
To get you some concrete answers:
-Can you get a VA Loan? YES. I bought my house using a VA loan, you just have to get a Certificate of Eligibility, which was surprisingly easy. Don't let people on here tell you how to feel about doing that. DO IT, no down payment required!
-I am in the same boat as you as far as getting the debt reduced or waived.. so far there has been very little that has helped. Congressional/Senator letters have only helped very little in getting responses from DFAS etc.
Please send me a message with any other questions, I know VERY well the struggle and isolation that this debt has and how little information there is out there, and I am very willing to share with you anything that could assist.