My Advice to You Is...

I served six years in the Air Force as a 3C0 and separated as an E5 in 2006. The Air Force was downsizing and my career field was over manned. I have not yet had the chance to re-enlist so that opportunity was closed before I got there. 

I was fortunate to land a job before separating and used terminal leave to transition immediately into a contractor job working on a military base. I held that job for a year before leaving for a civilian job with no affiliations with the military. 

I wanted to separate myself from anything military and see what it was really like. I've held that position now for 21 months and counting. 

However, I find myself in an interesting position. My Top Secret clearance went into inactive status after I left my last position. Now, I want to get back into military/government work in IT but the security clearance is my Achilles heel now. 

Every job I look at requires an active clearance. So I've been spinning my wheels for eight months now, trying to find a solution, Then I started thinking that I miss the military way of life. In my experience-- not that its that of a bad one -- the civilian sector is not better than the military. There is no uniformity. 

The rules are simply a fail safe in case somebody asks or gets out of hand. Promotion potential is never a guarantee and neither is increase in pay.

What's more, if the company you work for is publicly traded in the stock market then you'll see the direct effect first hand. Projects: gone. Pay Raise: don't think so. Training: on your own. 

I'm 11 classes away from getting my bachelor's and my goal after that is OTS. Though the pay is good for me, it's just not the same. You still wear a uniform: slacks and button up shirts. There are ranks: CEO, COO, CIO, CFO, VP, director. Everybody will experience something different and looks for something different as well. 

My biggest advice that I can give is to get your degree before you get out. Complete your associateand bachelor's. Get some certifications. Network with the people you meet. You'll just be thrown out into the resume pool of nobodys if you don't have somebody to point yours out. 

I never faced combat but I sure as hell wouldn't go without proper training and equipment. I hope this helps at least one person. If anybody has questions just ask. 

 (Submitted by Christian Ocasio Gonzalez)

Comments

[Big Will]

Good information and so true! Don't sleep on this heads-up.

[D lo 147 MCSE: Security]

Active Clearance + Experience + Certs = Money!