MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 29, 2025 / Unsecured debt is a reality for millions of Americans, cutting across age groups, professions, and life experiences. For many, it manifests as mounting credit card balances, medical bills, or personal loans. This is financial weight that accumulates over time and often grows faster than one's ability to manage it. Among the people significantly affected by this challenge are U.S. military veterans, especially those transitioning into civilian life.
Debt doesn't discriminate, but its effects are not evenly distributed. Veterans who have completed their service often face a unique combination of challenges: reentering the workforce, rebuilding routines outside the structure of military life, and for some, navigating health issues incurred while serving.
According to a recent study by National Debt Relief, nearly 90% of veterans who are no longer serving in the military have some form of debt. Among the 72% who carry credit card or personal loan debt, one in three owes $10,000 or more. More than three-quarters of Gen Z and Millennial veterans are still paying off amounts they incurred while serving.
Alex Kleyner, founder of National Debt Relief, is a long-time supporter of military service and those who've worn the uniform. He recognizes the weight many veterans carry long after service ends, and how debt can quietly impact a person's reality.
"Debt can reshape someone's sense of control," Alex Kleyner says. "It impacts your finances, how you make decisions, and the way you imagine your future. That's something too many veterans are up against as they're working to build the next phase of their lives."
Financial instability can compound emotional strain. For veterans managing both debt and the aftereffects of service, which for many can include mental health struggles, the challenges can multiply. The survey found that 91% of veterans believe debt can worsen military-related PTSD, a sentiment shared by those who have experienced it personally and those who have witnessed its effects.
While every veteran's experience is different, the broader reality remains clear: many are navigating post-service life under the pressure of substantial debt. That pressure can delay new beginnings, whether it's pursuing further education, starting a family, or putting down roots in a new community.
"There's a resilience in veterans," Alex Kleyner notes, "but that shouldn't mean having to carry the burden alone. It is important to acknowledge the scope of the issue and recognize that the weight of unsecured debt doesn't always come with visible signs. For veterans, the financial toll often sits beneath the surface, showing up in subtle but deeply consequential ways: working overtime at the expense of health, skipping meals to meet bills, or hesitating to seek help because of the stigma attached to financial stress."
At National Debt Relief, these realities aren't abstract. They show up in real conversations with real people every day, veterans who've served their country and are now seeking a way to regain footing in civilian life. When people face overwhelming debt, they need space to breathe and a realistic way to move forward.
"Being in debt doesn't define a person. But how we respond to that burden, as a company and as a community, says a lot about who we are," Alex Kleyner says. "For veterans who've already given so much, the least we can do is recognize what they're up against and offer solutions that honor their hopes for the future."
There's reason for hope. The path ahead may be challenging, but it is not without support or momentum. Alex Kleyner points out that acknowledging the depth of the problem is a critical first step. It allows for honest conversations, for veterans to share their experiences, and for others to better understand the complexities of debt.
"At National Debt Relief, our goal is to provide our clients with a path toward stability with empathy and understanding," says Alex Kleyner. "That means not only offering personalized solutions that help our veterans move forward, but also shining a light on the circumstances that often go unseen. Anyone climbing that hill, especially our veterans, deserves our support every single day."
CONTACT:
Andrew Mitchell
media@cambridgeglobal.com
SOURCE: Cambridge Global
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
