Questions on Post-Service Career Opprotunities with the Federal Government

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GMU CDT
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I've heard that a number of Federal agencies, among them the State Department and the CIA, actively recruit young former officers for positions.

Is this true?
 
Yes, mainly because military members have 2 big things:

1. Security clearance.

~~~Security clearance cost over 10K and last for 5 yrs. Military members for the most part will have had some level of security clearance.

2. Job lifestyle

~~~They have lived the lifestyle in the military compared to a corporate applicant. They have a better understanding of the system than someone who worked for HP.

Now that being said, they are like the military, if at this time you are thinking 5-9 yrs in advance to jump over to the Fed after diving from the military, AND that is your only reason to go military you are taking a big gamble.

The military has done stop loss; in other words they can stop you from leaving.

The Fed jobs aren't always hiring.

I understand thinking about the future, but this question is better left to when you are "short" in the AD world.

Nobody can predict the future.
 
Yes, mainly because military members have 2 big things:

1. Security clearance.

~~~Security clearance cost over 10K and last for 5 yrs. Military members for the most part will have had some level of security clearance.

2. Job lifestyle

~~~They have lived the lifestyle in the military compared to a corporate applicant. They have a better understanding of the system than someone who worked for HP.

Now that being said, they are like the military, if at this time you are thinking 5-9 yrs in advance to jump over to the Fed after diving from the military, AND that is your only reason to go military you are taking a big gamble.

The military has done stop loss; in other words they can stop you from leaving.

The Fed jobs aren't always hiring.

I understand thinking about the future, but this question is better left to when you are "short" in the AD world.

Nobody can predict the future.

Thanks Pima. To clarify I'm asking about Federal jobs because, while I hope that the Army will be my one and only true career, I'm also only seventeen years old. If it turns out that the Defence budget goes on the chopping block, or I sustain a serious injury that precludes me from serving, or some other unforeseen event prevents me from continuing my career between 2015 and 2045, then its nice to know that I have a fair chance at continuing to serve my country and at making a decent living.
 
Military service usually can't hurt you if you seek civilian federal employment. In fact, there is a law that requires veterans be afforded preference in hiring when two applicants are otherwise of equal qualifications.

The security clearance does help for national security positions, although I'd caution against any perceptions that the agencies you mentioned (State and CIA) are so similar to the Armed Forces that any military service means an easy time in hiring. This is simply not the case. It's more what your educational background and skills are than just the fact that you have military service.

It may very well be that you aquired skills in the military that are of use to the State Department or CIA (language skills, intelligence background, etc); however, not all military experiences will necessarily be useful to them. My late father was an overt employee of CIA for 30 years, and had a small military background (was an Army draftee for a few years) which was not as helpful in securing his employment as was his college training.

I'm a former USAF officer and work as an attorney for the federal government ( NOT in a national security position). Clearly, the main reason I can hold my job is because of my post-graduate educational qualifications (which I got post-service). I do think, however, that my military experience helped me get the job. It might not have been the deciding factor, but it helped.

My point, is that military service alone does not entitle someone to federal civilian employment. However, like every valuable life experience, it certainly can help one qualify for it. Also, if you are equally qualified with another applicant, being a veteran will legally give you the edge.
 
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It is very competitive in the fed job world. Sprog is correct, the military will open the door, bu it is what your resume offers that will get you the job.

In the DC area the people, like Bullet who are govt employees (GS) were hired for their intricate knowledge regarding the specific position. It is easier to get that job as a ret. O5/6 than an O3.

Go to this site http://www.usajobs.gov/ you will start to see the jobs are very specific with education, security clearance, etc.

Also, you should know it can take 6-9 months to get the job, so if this is Plan B, realize when you submit your separation papers to submit your job application at the same time.
 
Sprog, thanks for the insights there, I'm going for a bachelors in International Relations while at school, and hopefully will obtain a Graduate Degree in a related field seven years after. Understand what you mean about being a Vet being a secondary, rather than primary, factor when it come to hiring people for Federal positions. Then again I never expected a career in the Army to throw open doors in D.C. for me, just get a foot in. Based on the link Pima provided, which helped clarified quite a lot, I think that with a Master Degree in International Relations, and seven years in the Army, I should be able to cope financially if my career path is interupted after my thirtieth birthday, which is probably my greatest worry at this point.
 
I just had my first day of Transition Assistance Program (TAP)....I'll let you know.
 
Bullet hated going through that because it really isn't designed for the officers with experience in a specific field/area.

It was more about building resumes and how to network.

He viewed as killing time. He was required to go, but because he already had networking options and 2 offers on the table, it was like Charlie Brown's teacher...YADDA YADDA YADDA for 4 hours.

The program in theory should be applauded and lauded, but in reality it needs to be re-vamped. It is just too broad for a mandated program. They should have it broken down to various levels....like HS, std., Honors, AP.

A military member with 20 yrs in and advance college degrees will be looking for different career paths than the 30 yr old with only an undergrad. They probably already know how to interview for a job or have connections on how to create a resume. They typically do not need to be spoon fed that you put your contact info at the top of the resume, and should send a cover letter with the resume.

Like I said, TAPS theoretically is a great program, but if you are preparing military members, than the 1st lesson you should show them is know your market. 2nd lesson, one size fits all does not work in this economic climate.

Unless TAPS has changed drastically in the past 2 yrs, they failed on both of these corporate visions.
 
Well said.

Again, I will say, under the Fraud, Waste and Abuse program... TAPS would def. be number 1 on WASTE.

I do not know one person, who knows one person that ever gained anything out of TAPS. They do the drill, show up and listen to YADA, YADA YADA.

I hope that when the DOD is forced to slash their budgets, they get rid of this program.

I also hope they stop the darn meet with us and have your spouse sign off on VSB. I didn't have to sign off for 20 yrs as an AD spouse regarding life insurance, why do you need me now to do it?

Waste and Abuse of fed funds if you want to know my opinion!~~~ Seriously AD he was worth more to me dead than alive. retired he is worth more to be alive:shake:
 
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