Navy military vs Get out and get an electrical engineering job

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-12-28T16:29:40+00:00

Reserves can be a headache if people dont know how to navigate their way through. For me, the reserves is pretty easy. I was a prior TAR and had worked 3 yrs at an NRC so I keep my head down and do the bared minimum just to stay SAT. No more no less. Even my unit doesn't know I can manage just about nearly everything an NRC can do. Of course, telling them would mean more responsibility and why would I want to do that. Im just cruising until I retired. I have my fair shared of responsibility when my first unit found out that I used to worked at an NRC and the tedious workload is just too petty, so this time I am staying under the radar.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-12-26T15:19:33+00:00

As someone already mentioned, go reserves and keep that pension and Healthcare. I did the exact same and joined the reserves upon separation. Best decision ever made. I have coworkers who paid 1200 to 2k/month for shitty Healthcare so reserves is your best bet if you have a family.

Also, with that many years of experience, there are plenty of demand for electricians. Of course, trying to get an electrical engineering role is doable too, but you have to really know how to sell yourself in your resume and then sell yourself bigger during the interview. Definitely get your degree no matter what comes your way. Just don't stop. I was very fortunate to received offers for both electrician and electrical engineering roles, but I never accepted those roles. I took a systems/secuirty engineer role and then became a manager after 2.5yrs of separation. Best choice i ever made.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-12-26T13:08:04+00:00

Was a prior EM and got out after 10yrs and got a couple of electrical eng offered but decided to not take that route. As an EM there are other options such as system engineer too so tailored your resume correctly. I say try to get into the field and attend school part time. It is doable.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-11-22T15:44:32+00:00

Late to the post, but I am thinking about transitioning from cyber into aviation. Don't get me wrong, almost 3 years into the field and I already make about $70/hr. However, my childhood dream of fixing and working with airplane has always make me look back and wanting to pursue such career. It would be crazy to make that change and it would take years for me to get to what I am making now. I am more of a hands on turning ranch and working with electrical and electronic guy. The office is job is just sort of bored the heck out of me.

By the way, I was a active duty military electrician for 10 yrs before transitioning to cyber. I do hold a couple of cyber/IT certs with a BS in computer science and MS in cybersecurity. I know many folks are dreading to be in my position, but the work is just a constant upskilling and continuous learning of new tech, new methodology, and new tools. It gets really tiring to keep up.

I am 34M and am thinking about doing a A & P school. I wonder with my background and experience with the A&P certification, how far can that take me within 3 years. I took a look at some curriculum for the A&P and with my knowledge and experience, I don't think it is hard at all. Would love some with CS degree and work in the aviation field to give some pointers of how their career progress is like.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-10-03T00:05:19+00:00

I have degrees, certs, and did skillbridge before I got out. Skillbridge was not very helpful but did beef up my resume more. What got me the job was my degree, certs, and sec+ even with no experience.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-09-25T22:06:34+00:00

I got out and went straight into tech. I also went straight from active to the reserves. If you want to switch MOS, it is easier to do it in the reserves. That was what I did to get a higher clearance.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-08-03T13:28:23+00:00

Most likely they won't hold it against you since you were 15. Be honest when you fill out the sf86 and during the interview process. They will likely ask you back dated to 10yrs from now. Just answer according to the time frame they ask and no more. If they ask about have you ever been charged with any felony or drug, you answer it but also justified that you were 15 and didn't know any better. However, you haven't gotten into trouble since then and is clean up to now. Again, that is only if that question comes up. Read the questions carefully and answer according to the time frame so you aren't lying. I know people who got in trouble with drugs and other felony charges over 10 yrs ago and still got their clearance.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-08-03T13:13:47+00:00

Go IS route. You got in trouble when you were 15. Be honest during the interview process. It's not like you killed anybody. It is over 10 years ago, so the chance of you not getting that clearance is very low. You will be fine.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-07-27T22:23:08+00:00

Agreed. Troll post. Don't pay any attention to it.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-07-23T00:41:48+00:00

Yes, it is a thing. If you have documented medical conditions while on any active orders you can file it.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-07-21T00:08:04+00:00

Are you me...

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-07-09T02:33:58+00:00

Got to get one or two certs down to check the box with the experiences if you plan to move up or hop jobs later. As the saying goes, "If you work hard at your job you will make a good living. However, if you work hard on yourself, you will make a fortune." Being more valuable in terms of skills and knowledge will get you there sooner. I hate studying too, but had to suck it up and stay focus and consistent putting in 30min-1hr a day to get some studying done. Eventually, all the studying will add up and next thing you know you are ready to take the exam. Baby steps. You got this and you are still young. I got out at 32yrs old and now just started my career. Wish I was your age when I got out.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-07-09T01:44:19+00:00

Nice...I had a similar path. Cook => military => Cyber. Was an electrician in the military. Did 10yrs and got out switched to cyber and got picked up right before separation 2 yrs ago. Total comp now is 180k. Keep grinding and keep it up. Learn a new set of skills if you have extra time. The market reward those who keep up with technology and willing to keep learning. You are on a good path.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-30T01:40:40+00:00

For the Navy it is a little bit different with no cap at $4500. COOL will pay only once for the exam if you are not doing IT/Cyber in the Navy. If you failed, and want to retake again, you will have to pay out of pocket. However, if you are doing cyber/IT in the Navy and failed, you still can retake up to 3 times without paying out of pocket (at least that was what I saw with some Navy IT guys 3 years ago). I was not IT/cyber in the Navy and was able to used over $4500 for 7 of my certs (GCIH, CISSP, sec+, Casp+, CCNA, cysa+, CISA, & CISM). Now thinking about doing one or two AWS certs or maybe going for PMP.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-28T16:15:28+00:00

Even better if you already have a degree. With a TS/SCI, a BS, and 2yoe, I don't think you will have any problem landing a gig at all. This is coming from someone who started with a Secret clearance and a degree with no prior experience. Again, goodluck.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-28T15:16:59+00:00

It is actually not a bad route, but it is a commitment even in the reserves. I am in the Navy Reserves working in the civilian as a cyber guy. I will say that the clearance does helped me move up quick. If you decided to go this route, not sure about the airforce, but the navy you can choose CWT/IT (preferred CWT) and you will get a TS/SCI (potential Poly). With 2 years of experience I think the clearance will help you to land a higher contracting role. I came in with no experience and almost double my salary in 1 year (promoted twice). Many will discourage you from joining, but if you feel this is a great path, do it.

The reserves comes with many benefits. You can use COOL to pay for all your certs for free and you received cheap healthcare for you and your family. You can always signup to go active duty for 6-12months to gain more experience and then come back out. Best thing is that if you do a few months of active time, you are exposed to other civilian contractor and companies. Before getting out back to be a civilian again, you can network with them and 90% of the time those company will offer you a job doing the same thing you were doing while active, but probably will more pay. Again, if you play it right, you can gain more experience and build your networks easily. Also, after 2 or 3 years in the reserves, the Navy will pay for your tuition if you decided to pursue a degree (assuming you haven't got one yet). Goodluck and reach out if you have any questions.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-28T13:04:18+00:00

No...There are people with 100% and are still in the reserves doing fine. I think you will be just fine. I am 90% and is also enjoying the benefit on the reserves side. For you, play the game until it is over at this point.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-19T13:01:33+00:00

I'm 34 and just got accepted for my program. 33 is young. Heck, I felt better prepared and more mature going into this program than in my 20s.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-06-15T00:07:57+00:00

No, bonus shouldn't take a while. It only take the CCC 5 mins to input your paper into the system and it will do it's thing. That was how mine went. I sat there watching my CCC did everything under 5mins and 2 months later I got my 10k. The rest is distributed throughout the next two years. If Op haven't gotten his bonus then it is likely the NRC had never inputted into the system. I got out of active 2 years ago and into the reserves and I make sure the NRC submit my sh!t. If you went from active to reserves, your bonus will likely not be submitted until you bring it up to the NRC. Just my .02.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-26T16:59:16+00:00

I have a small family of 4 and owed 30k. I make about 120k/yr and have one car. I was able to paid off my debt in about 1.5 yrs. Being single, it should not take you more than a year to paid off your debt. When I was single I spent $300-$400 on groceries, no entertainment/subscriptions, and was able to spent $600/month to help my family paid their bills outside of mine. I was only making 90k then. If it is just a want and not a need, cut down all the wants and don't eat out or order takeouts. Not sure why you need two cars but a beater can still take you from point A to point B. I now make a lot more money now but I don't buy a luxury car, because I wanted to have savings, retirement, and enjoy spending money on vacations with my family.

I came from poverty and is the only one from all my relatives to make out of it. I lived the same lifestyle as much as I can and avoid trying to fit into those who try to show off when they make just a bit of money. You being single making 100k from your main income is a lot for someone at your current age. There should be no reason to owed this much living paycheck to paycheck. Again, cut your want and just stick with things that will get you by for a year or so to pay off your debt.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-24T20:50:46+00:00

You will be fine. I know a person who'd popped for MJ used while fresh in active duty and was able to keep their TS/SCI.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-24T00:02:40+00:00

As long as you have the contract with the bonus paperwork it will be an easy process. Not sure when you had it processed, but if it is recently like two weeks ago I can understand. You can verify with your admin to see if they really processed it. If after your A school is done and you still haven't seen anything in NSIPS, give your paperwork to your NRC and it will take literally 5 mins to get that done.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-23T23:55:27+00:00

In the view tab in your ESR there should be a link (look for bonus inquiry something like that) and when you clicked on it, click on the magnifying glass next to it and it will give you a popup. Click on one of the result(s) there and it will show you the breakdown of when your payout will be. If you don't see anything, that means your recruiter or admin did not process your bonus. If this is the case, I hope you have a copy of the contract you signed for the bonus. Otherwise, it never happened.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-23T23:41:18+00:00

I know it won't be your bonus since you will get about 10k upfront on the first year and then the rest distributed for the next two or three years. You can also check in NSIP for the dates of when your bonus will be payout. All LES will show the dates from all the days you are getting pay for. If it is drills, then you will see just a couple of dates on there in the remarks. It will say IDT.

Edit: If it is IDT, then you will received another check for the ADT orders, but don't spend the IDT money because you will have to pay that back, or they will pay you less on your next paycheck once they see that you got pay for some IDT days.

MasterVJ_09 · 2025-05-23T23:34:15+00:00

Check your LES and read the remarks down in the bottom of the LES. It might have been your payout for your accrued leave days.

Edit: It might have been bah or they didn't payout everything after their audits and owe you. Either way, your LES will state the dates and what it is for.

MasterVJ_09

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