<p>I was looking to ways to help pay off law school debt and a recruiter talked to me about serving in the military as a JAG Officer.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about these positions and loan repayment benefits they may come with?</p>
<p>It looks like the Navy has a loan repayment program.</p>
<p>[Navy</a> JAG :: Careers Site](<a href=“http://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/careers/compensation.html]Navy”>http://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/careers/compensation.html)</p>
<p>Just make sure that you get any offer from a recruiter in writing.</p>
<p>I have a question, can anyone tell me about job opportunities after you were to get out of JAG service. Specifically, is it possible to get a Biglaw job after serving? Thanks for your answers in advance.</p>
<p>From what I have read Navy is the only branch that offers loan repayment. Can anyone verify this?</p>
<p>I guess it was announced that Army would offer something, but I’m not sure if it came through: [JAG</a> Corps, Housing Allowance, Judge Advocate General, Law School Loan Repayment | JD Journal](<a href=“http://www.jdjournal.com/2009/06/08/lawyers-eager-to-join-jag-corps/]JAG”>http://www.jdjournal.com/2009/06/08/lawyers-eager-to-join-jag-corps/)</p>
<p>The Army and the Air Force are the only services that offer a loan repayment. The AF program is brand new not even on their website. But is the same as the Army’s, 65K paid over 3 years and is taxable income. </p>
<p>The Navy is offering money after you complete your first 4 years, you get 20K for 2 years and at the 6 year point you can get another 40K.</p>
<p>Currently the selection rate for the AF has 6%. The last board selected 20 with 350+ having applied. The AF hires 120 each year, the Navy 70 and the Army is 200.</p>
<p>It is very hard to get a slot.</p>
<p>Afa, do you have a link for us at all?</p>
<p>[Military</a> Law](<a href=“Military Law Forum - Top Law Schools”>Military Law Forum - Top Law Schools)</p>
<p>It is very long but helpful thread on JAGs for each service. </p>
<p>[Air</a> Force OTS :: OTS Foundation Portal - Access Denied](<a href=“Air Force Officer Training School: Forging Leaders in the Skies - Air Force OTS”>Air Force Officer Training School: Forging Leaders in the Skies - Air Force OTS)</p>
<p>This you need to sign up to read, but it all about people seeking AFJAG.</p>
<p>[The</a> Good Kind of Random](<a href=“http://micahmcmillan.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/]The”>http://micahmcmillan.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/)</p>
<p>This is a jag’s blog were he blogged about it.</p>
<p>JAG Corps Student Loan Repayment Program
November 30, 2009</p>
<p>Being in public service as a member of the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps is a good thing. I get to practice law, serve my country, and look pretty cool while doing it (thanks tiger-stripe ABUs!). But one of less attractive aspects of this job is the debt-to-income ratio, due in large part to student loans used to pay for law school. The average new JAG has somewhere between 70-100 thousand dollars in student loans. I wont get in to how much debt I am carrying, or how much money I make as an 0-3 captain in the Air Force; but I will say that many of my fellow JAGs are financially unable to continue serving in the Air Force (or public service) because of the difficulty they have in paying their student loans out of their military income. This has meant that, in recent years, nearly 50% of the JAG Corps leaves after only four years of service.</p>
<p>Sad, right? Well heres some good news: it looks like these pesky law school loans will qualify for repayment under Section 2171 of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. §2171). The implementation and other guidance for this program is still being ironed out, but heres some general information sent out by The Judge Advocate General for the Air Force.</p>
<p>TJAGC Student Loan Repayment Program (JA-SLRP)</p>
<p>Reference: 10 U.S.C. §2171</p>
<p>How much money could I receive?</p>
<p>Each eligible active duty judge advocate can apply for a maximum of $65,000, which will be divided into three equal annual payments. The three annual payments are capped by 10 U.S.C. §2171 at 33 1/3 percent of the loans remaining unpaid principal or $1,500, which is greater, for each year of active duty service. Interest, even interest recapitalized into the principal, will not be repaid. The payments are taxable income, so each JA-SLRP recipient will be responsible for paying applicable state and federal taxes.</p>
<p>What loans are eligible for JA-SLRP?</p>
<p>Federal, state, and private loans are eligible for JA-SLRP, provided the loans meet the criteria in 10 U.S.C. §2171.</p>
<p>In accordance with 10 U.S.C. §2171, the Air Force is authorized to repay the following educational loans, which must be in good standing, as defined by the judge advocates lender:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under Part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. §1071, et seq.);</p></li>
<li><p>Any loan made under part D of such title (the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, 20 U.S.C. §1087a, et seq.);</p></li>
<li><p>Any loan made under part E of such title (20 U.S.C. §1087aa, et seq.); or</p></li>
<li><p>Any loan incurred for educational purposes made by a lender that is </p></li>
</ol>
<p>a. An agency or instrumentality of a State;</p>
<p>b. A financial or credit institution (including an insurance company) that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or any State;</p>
<p>c. A pension fund approved by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness for the purposes of this program; or</p>
<p>d. A non-profit private entity designated by a State regulated by such State, and approved by the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness for the purposes of this program.</p>
<p>Is there an additional Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC)?</p>
<p>No, JA-SLRP payments will be made on the basis of each complete year of active duty service performed by the eligible judge advocate.</p>
<p>What impact will JA-SLRP have on my eligibility for College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) programs?</p>
<p>There are two CCRAA programs you will need to consider in light of your personal financial situations before applying for JA-SLRP. First, if you are repaying your loan under the Income Based Repayment (IBR) or Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) program, your monthly payments will likely rise in the tax year following each JA-SLRP payment. Those repayment programs calculate your monthly payments based on your income, not the amount of your student loan debt. In addition, this rise in your income may make you ineligible for the IBR or ICR.</p>
<p>Second, if you have a Federal Direct or Federal Consolidated Direct Loan and are pursuing the CCRAAs Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP), you must closely examine whether JA-SLRP payments should be applied to those federal loans. To take full advantage of the PSLFP, you will want to keep your monthly payments as low as possible thereby maximizing the remaining principal and interest the federal government forgives. By applying JA-SLRP payments to these federal loans, you will actually be accomplishing the opposite: your monthly payments will rise and you will be reducing the amount the federal government forgives.</p>
<p>As I said, the specifics of this program are still up in the air (final details are expected sometime during spring of 2010), but it is good news for JAGs with law school loans. Im excited!</p>
<p>7 Comments | Air Force, Legal, law school | Tagged: 10 USC 2171, AFJAG, AFJAGS, Debt forgiveness, Educational Loan Repayment Program, JA, JAG Corps, Law school loans, Loan forgiveness, Loan repayment, SLRP, Student Loan Repayment Program, TJAG | Permalink
Posted by Micah McMillan</p>
<p>Although not a Navy JAG Officer, I do advertising work for the Navy and can point you to the Navy JAG Facebook page. To back up what someone else already said. The Navy JAG Corps does offer of up to $60,000 in Continuation Pay starting after your 5th or 6th year of service. If you would like more information, you can visit the Navy JAG Facebook page to ask real Navy JAG Officers questions. [US</a> Navy JAG Corps | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook”>US Navy JAG Corps)</p>