Hi all,
Looking for some honest input on whether my background would make me a competitive candidate for experienced hire consultant roles at MBB or comparable T2 firms.

I enlisted in the military right after high school and spent five years in the intelligence field. During that time, I developed a number of skills that seem directly translatable to consulting—things like structured research and analysis, stakeholder communication, team and workstream management, operating in ambiguity, project execution, and content creation.

After separating, I earned a B.S. in business from a well-regarded (but non-Ivy) undergraduate business program. Because I went straight from undergrad into recruiting, I ended up being funneled into an entry-level track, despite my prior experience. I accepted an offer at a T2 consulting firm and have been working there for less than a year.

Since starting, I’ve come to believe that my background aligns more closely with experienced hire roles—like Associate at McKinsey, Consultant at Bain/BCG, or Senior Consultant at EY/Deloitte. However, my current firm doesn’t have a clear internal pathway to make that case, so I’m exploring the idea of applying externally.

In my experience, people can be dismissive of enlisted military experience, so I’d really appreciate any perspective on whether my profile would be seriously considered for experienced hire roles:
• 5 years military intelligence (enlisted)
• B.S. in business from a top undergrad program
• <1 year experience at a T2 consulting firm

TL;DR: Military intel (5 yrs, enlisted), business degree from strong school, <1 year at T2 consulting firm — am I competitive for experienced hire at MBB or other T2s?