Need help and advice...?

This is kind of just a shot in the dark since im so limited with options in my current situation, and this is most likely not the best outlet but hopefully there is someone out there that can help. Its a little long and complicated so bare with me..

To start off, in October of 2010 I lost my job due to slow business with a company that I had done quite well with as a sales rep. In 2009 I had bought a new car and was doing well for myself at my age (21). Mid way thru 2010 things started to slow down in the area I live in and business overall was in bad shape for everyone. I live in Toledo, Ohio and the economy here has taken a terrible down spiral in the past couple of years. When I got let go from my job it was pretty unseen and out of the blue. Fortunately I was eligible for unemployment but it was no where near enough to cover my bills, and almost immediately I started to fall behind. With Toledo`s job market, it has been impossible for me to find a job. Being so close to Detroit and all of the big car manufacturers that make their home there laying off large amounts of people, the market has been flooded with unemployed. Inevitably, I ended up having to give up my car because I just couldn't afford it anymore. After that things just seemed to fall out from under me. My wife who had been working 2 jobs, lost her main job as a receptionist at a home health agency that ended up having to close down because it couldn't sustain its self in Toledo's terrible economy. She still has her other job as a retail associate at a electronics store but its not much at all.

With everything that was going on, me and my wife talked it over and I decided to look into a career in the military. Its something have always had a interest in, but never really got to actually pursuing. After talking to all the recruiters for each branch and some time talking to my wife and family, I decided that the Navy was the best branch for me, and offered the most for me and my wife. So i enlisted, went through the process and was given a job and a ship date to bootcamp of December 2011.

After talking to the recruiters and being given my spot in the Navy, I was given some disheartening news. Because of the current job market, more people have been enlisting and reenlisting in the armed forces then ever before. This being said they have become much more selective on who they put in now. Now myself passed all the Navy test with no problems what so ever and was eligible for any job in the Navy but one thing came up that is a potential to ruin my chances and that was any debt I had that was delinquent.

Since being unemployed, I did have quite a few things that I have not been able to pay that were eventually brought to collections. To try and save money and pay these off, me and my wife moved into her sisters apartment to save money on rent. We do have to help with rent and utilities but it was less then our apartment. We have been attempting to save up as much as possible to pay off the collection but fall short every month. With my job in the Navy at stake, I have been doing everything I can to try and pay off this debt, because if I am unable to join the Navy I am not sure what me and my wife will have as options after that. We are unable to get aid from our family because they are just making it by as it is. I have been working with my recruiter to try and talk to my creditors and try for lower payments or possibly deferments, but no such luck. When I pulled my credit report I was able to see how much I actually needed to pay off and it came to around $2000.

At this point I am at a feeling of helplessness and lost of hope. Short from winning the lottery or meeting a millionaire, I feel like things are just going to get worse.

I guess what Im looking for advice or knowledge on how I can salvage my situation.

Thanks,
Randy