@Yo Momma
… and yeah, 10 years post-graduation, he still has student loans in the six digits. Still working on them, making better progress with the student loan interest freeze.
I knew that feeling for many years. I left VT for a 2 yr stint (~2000) at a relatively remote site in the DHHS Indian Health Service. I was a LCDR (think Worf on Star Trek Next Gen
Commissioned Corps Officer which helped to completely pay off my student loans. Prior, while here in VT the student loan reimbursement offered for in-state dentists treating mostly Medicaid patients by AHEC (VT Area Health Education Center) was abysmal to the tune of $5k per year. While I appreciated the efforts by AHEC, the payoff dates were unacceptable to me. So my choices were to go into private practice (no Medicaid patients like most private dentists up here) or leave VT and work for DHHS and take advantage of their more generous prioritized remote-site, national reimbursement programs.
Those DHHS programs have changed as the demand for dentists diminished due to the I.H.S. receiving more applicants. They no longer reimburse at the same rates for the equivalent amount of time. Last I checked it was MUCH more competitive to get a position that qualifies for student loan reimbursement or you have to go SUPER remote like to the Navajo rez at Chinle, AZ.
Out of respect, I do not technically consider myself as "Military" but that is my status as designated by Uncle Sam. The Govt efficiently uses the IDme app for current status updates. I am able to buy Veterans/Military discounted season passes and lift tickets at many ski areas, participate in the Armed Forces Vacation Club w/ amazingly cheap deals, as well as lifetime free entry to all pay walled VT state parks (like Sandbar, Alburgh Dunes and Burton State Parks up in the Colchester area). It's the gift that keeps on giving... USAA, VGLI, VA home loans, etc... to which I have to say Thank You to all tax payers and to Uncle Sam. Setting up that dental clinic was an incredibly tough 2 yr stint but worth it.