Did having a security clearance (Secret and/or TS) help you in finding a job after ETS or Retirement?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:14:32 -0400

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Apr 7 at 2018 3:20 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:20:08 -0400

I never mentioned it, unfortunately.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Apr 7 at 2018 3:33 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:33:04 -0400

It did, I became a government contractor.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 7 at 2018 3:50 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:50:04 -0400

Thing about clearances is they are killed off when you retire or punch out. However, the basis of the clearance is usually still valid which makes a government contractor's security office job much easier in sponsoring a replacement clearance. Works well for folk that are very knowledgeable about the systems they use and then shift to Raytheon, Boeing, etc. to work the other end. I'd advise anyone getting out to know what the shelf life is on the clearance basis. BTW if you're out and say you have a clearance on your resume, you are giving a false statement. Make sure you say "held" and not "hold". That screams your lack of knowledge. If the firm asks, you can say how many years left on the basis.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Apr 7 at 2018 4:13 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:13:16 -0400

I can't say that my TS/SCI access paid off upon my retirement. The attributes that helped the most were the abilities to type, read, and ingest the material in a comprehensive manner. Had I stayed at Fort Bragg those clearances would have been highly beneficial should I have accepted a job with my old Special Security Officer, Major "Moon" Mullins. I opted, instead, to return to college for a while before entering the domain as an employee of the U.S.P.S. in Computer Forwarding.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2018 4:22 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:22:04 -0400

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member When I was discharged I worked at a chemical plant as an operator while I obtained my degree. When I started work on the Space Shuttle program, they had to run a new background check. My military background probably helped me more than my previous security clearance.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2018 6:31 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:31:08 -0400

Depending where you are looking for work. Some employers are looking for someone he had a clearance and if it’s within a certain number of years they can more easily transfer your data onto a new civilian/contractor profile than someone who hasn’t held a clearance level they are looking for.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 7 at 2018 6:40 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:40:29 -0400

No I'm a dairy goat farmer and goats are notorious blabbermouths.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2018 6:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:53:17 -0400

It is important to keep in mind the prevalence of clearances in the modern DoD. Seemingly as policy, all soldiers are put in for a SECRET clearance when joining. It shouldn't necessarily work this way, but that is what I have observed over the past year as a security manager. This has and will water down the market for a SECRET clearance outside of active-duty. In addition, a great deal of people possessing TOP SECRET or TSSCI clearances ETS'd when they were most valuable, which has driven down the market some. Despite this, a TOP SECRET or TSSCI clearance still holds tremendous value in the private sector.
Several of my former and current coworkers (as well as myself) have received generous offers even with relatively little service time. Outside of military intelligence, your experience may vary.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 7 at 2018 7:55 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 19:55:17 -0400

It doesn't hurt, especially if the hiring company does background checks

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Apr 7 at 2018 10:28 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 22:28:48 -0400

NOPE!!

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2018 10:35 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 22:35:08 -0400

Absolutely. My clearance was still "current" 18 months after retirement and I was hired explicitly because of it. All my employer had to do was get it re-activated, which entailed a brief interview and an updated e-qip. Took all of 30 days.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 8 at 2018 3:39 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 03:39:53 -0400

It helped me get my first contractor gig. My boss told me that's the reason he hired me.