HOW I GOT A 800+ CREDIT SCORE IN THE MILITARY: HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE IN THE MILITARY

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Hey everyone! My name’s Joey, and today I’m going to share how I built an 800+ credit score while serving in the military. Whether you’re a young private just starting out or a seasoned veteran, these tips can help you get your credit in shape.

Let’s be real—good credit isn’t just for buying a house or a car. It’s about having financial freedom. Want to move out of your parents’ house at 19 like I did? Good credit will help. Want to avoid paying 16% interest on that Mustang you’ve been eyeing? Good credit is your best friend.

So, how did I do it? Here’s the breakdown of the six key factors that affect your credit score and how you can master them.

1. PAYMENT HISTORY (35% OF YOUR SCORE)

This is the big one. Lenders want to know if you pay your bills on time. Miss one payment, and it can haunt your credit report for years. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.

Pro Tip: Set up automatic payments, but don’t just set it and forget it. Check your accounts regularly to make sure nothing fishy is going on. I’ve had my credit card info stolen more than once, and catching it early saved me a lot of headaches.

2. AGE OF CREDIT (15% OF YOUR SCORE)

The longer you’ve had a credit card, the better. That’s why it’s smart to start building credit early. I got a Military Star Card as soon as I joined, and it helped me build a solid credit history.

Pro Tip: Don’t cancel your oldest credit card, even if you don’t use it anymore. Closing it can shorten your credit history and hurt your score.

3. CREDIT UTILIZATION (30% OF YOUR SCORE)

This is how much of your available credit you’re using. The golden rule? Keep it under 30%. For example, if you have a $300 a month.

Pro Tip: If you have multiple cards, add up all your limits and make sure your total spending stays below 30%. Overspending is a red flag to lenders and can tank your score.

4. TOTAL ACCOUNTS (10% OF YOUR SCORE)

Having multiple credit accounts shows lenders that you can handle different types of credit. But don’t go crazy—applying for too many cards at once can hurt your score.

Pro Tip: Wait at least six months between applying for new credit cards. This gives your score time to recover from the hard inquiry (more on that next).

5. CREDIT INQUIRIES (10% OF YOUR SCORE)

There are two types of credit inquiries: hard and soft. Hard inquiries happen when you apply for a loan or credit card, and they can slightly lower your score. Soft inquiries, like checking your own credit score, don’t affect your score at all.

Pro Tip: Space out your credit applications to avoid multiple hard inquiries in a short time. Most hard inquiries fall off your report after a year or two.

6. DEROGATORY MARKS (VARIES)

These are the black marks on your credit report—things like late payments, collections, or bankruptcy. They can stay on your report for up to seven years and make it harder to get good rates.

Pro Tip: Avoid these at all costs. If you do end up with a derogatory mark, work on rebuilding your credit by paying bills on time and keeping your utilization low.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Building good credit takes time and discipline, but it’s worth it. Whether you’re saving for a house, a car, or just want financial stability, these tips can help you get there.

Remember, I’m not a financial expert—just a guy who made some mistakes and learned from them. If you’re still confused, leave a comment, and let’s figure it out together.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in the next post!

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Joey Nguyen has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Joey Nguyen and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.