When I was in the Air Force I was aircrew on the E-3 Sentry (AWACS) aircraft. That required a Top Secret SCI clearance. I did that for 4 years. In Nov 1999 while flying Operation Southern Watch missions over Syria/Turkey the co-pilot window blew out at 42,000ft AGL. My lung collapsed (the aircraft is pressurized to 8,000ft, while the pressure OUTSIDE the aircraft was 42,000ft. Imagine standin on top of an 8,000ft mountain unaided by oxygen, then IMMEDIATELY being moved to a 42,000ft mountain in less than 1/2 a second). I was DNIF (Duties Not Including Flying) for 6 months (standard ops). I was resumed to flight duty. Immediately after my 1st flight my lung collapsed again. The required ANOTHER DNIF for 6 months. I was going to do this and still fly in the Air Force, HOWEVER the FAA would strip my license should I have another pneumothorax (collapsed lung). I decided to NOT fly in the Air Force in order to retain my civillian license. I corsstrained into Communications where I worked on Top Secret DoD communications. After my last 4 years, I got offers from the CIA/FBI/NSA/Dept of Homeland Security as a contractor (UNIX Systems Engineer). So that's how I got my job. Actually anyone who has a skillset that the Gov can use and can pass AND MAINTAIN a security clearance (SECRET is the minimum, nuclear is the highest) can get a Fed job. I know guys who were cooks in the Army who are now cooks at Groom Lake (Area 51). There is a Fed gov job equivalent to pretty much EVERY civillian job that you can have. Just apply!!!
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