Military Academy MLA Benefits Explained | Cadets + Midshipmen

Military academy cadets and midshipman are eligible to have Military Lending Act or MLA benefits applied to their credit card accounts, including premium Chase cards.

This is a recent change to MLA rules based on a Federal Register notice of database update published in February 2022.

I have received multiple datapoints confirming that West Point, Air Force Academy, Annapolis Naval Academy, and Coast Guard Academy cadets and midshipmen are benefiting from cards with military protections such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Card.

You should check the MLA database to confirm you are eligible for the benefits as a “covered borrower.”

Always check the MLA database before applying for a credit card if you are a military cadet or midshipmen to confirm you are correctly listed as eligible for MLA benefits. If you are not listed in the MLA benefits, correct the issue with your personnel office before applying for the card.

Chase, Citi, US Bank, and other financial institutions interpret the MLA laws the same for all covered borrowers. Academy cadets and midshipmen receive the same military protections as active duty military personnel and military spouses.

I recommend starting with my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, which will walk you through step by step on how to maximize your military credit card benefits.

You can earn nearly free flights, free hotel and resort stays, and pay no annual fees. We have had over 22,000 graduates of the course since 2018.

When your ready to open up credit cards, you can start with my optimal order of cards to open in the best credit cards for military article. Or check out the best credit cards for military academy cadets and midshipmen.

You can't go wrong with the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Card. This card offer special military protections for active duty military and military spouses.

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• $795 annual fee adjusted with Chase policy
• bonus_miles_full
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ including The Edit℠
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
• 3x points on dining worldwide
• 1x points on all other purchases
• Get a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Live the lounge life at over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
• Up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years which saves you a ton of time
• Up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 – a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC
• Learn more in the Chase Sapphire Reserve review

Cadets and midshipmen at all the military academies are eligible for MLA benefits now:

• United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York
• United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland
• United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut
• United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York
• United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Military Lending Act for Academy Cadets and Midshipmen

The Military Lending Act is a federal law that provides certain consumer credit protections to members of the armed forces and their dependents. These members and dependents are labeled as “covered borrowers.”

The MLA was enacted by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in Fiscal Year 2013. The law limits the amount of interest that can be charged to covered borrowers to 36% per year.

The practical implications of the law is that, if you are correctly listed in the MLA database as as covered borrower, then your annual fees will be waived on certain credit cards.

These cards include all personal cards from Chase, Citi, and US Bank. Note that you must be in the MLA database and listed as covered borrower at the time of your application for a line of credit or you will not get your annual fees waived. Here is a list of the best credit cards for military servicemembers and military spouses.

Military Academy MLA Update 2023

This MLA update is a recent change: it was published in the Federal Register Dec 27, 2021 and implemented in 2022.

This update adds cadets and midshipmen attending Military Service Academies of the Armed Forces, who are covered borrowers under the MLA, to the population of covered borrowers identified in the MLA database, thereby correcting an error in the database's original development.

Document Number 2021-28034

Bottom Line

Now confirmed by multiple data points, this MLA update is real. Military academy cadets and midshipmen can open premium travel rewards and cash back credit cards with special military protections.

I recommend starting with my list of the best credit cards for military and working through that list. You can sign up for my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course.

I've trained over 22,000 military and military spouse graduates how to maximize their military credit card benefits and earn free airfare, hotels, and lots of other goodies.

The big catch here if being able to meet the minimum spend requirements in the allotted time. If your natural spending is lower than the minimum spend requirement, then wait until you commission to open up these premium cards.

A good time to potentially open the credit cards would be right before or after commissioning. The cards could provide travel rewards points to travel the world before reporting to active duty. You could also use the expenses of your first PCS to meet the minimum spending on the card.

Before you go, check out the best credit cards for cadets and midshipman.