NEED HELP! What would you do?

Okay, so need some advice. I have the option to get out of the military because of budget cuts. And I really should, because I just got custody of my 2 year old son. If I were to deploy, he would end up with Mom, who is a welfare wombat that can't hold down a job.

Problem is, I just broke into the security world a little less than a year ago. Switched from Helpdesk to Network Vulnerability Scanning

. I'm afraid that if I get out with less than a year experience, I won't be able to find work in security on the outside.

What would you do?

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Comments

hackman2007

I would start looking for similar positions and get out of the military.

Family is more important than a job.

dmoore44

Get out and find a job in IT, then work your way towards the InfoSec side of IT.

You can make it work in San Antonio being prior military with IT experience - the 688 IOW and 67 NWW are at Lackland. I don't know what their staffing is like... but if you're interested in continuing in a Cyber role, your best bet is the DC area. All of the Army Cyber units are here at Ft. Belvoir and USCYBERCOM is located at Ft. Meade.

If you want private sector... I would still get out but would look over towards Silicon Valley or any major metro area (LA, NY, Chicago, Dallas)

N2IT

The boy comes first.

Base your decision off of him.

ptilsen

Get out. Having any military and security experience is enough IMO. You will still be able to work in your field. Don't let that stop you.

traceyke

"WELFARE WOMBAT"?!??!?.........*jumps into the abyss while dying laughing*

SteveLord

What do you mean by get out of the military? Your ETS is coming up? And how many years do you have in?

techdudehere

I've never been enlisted so take this advice from what it's worth but I've had some close friends who were. Military seems to offer some of the best benefits such as housing, retirement, etc. Private sector work is often a headache at the lower levels. However, the higher up the chain you go, the better private sector life tends to become. If you are highly successful in the private sector, you will probably make a decent wage and be treated well. If you are trapped in the lower levels, life tends to be quite unpleasant and the pay won't cover your bills, you will have no effective retirement, and you certainly won't get housing allowance. I would not leave the military given a choice if I were in your position. I would at least stay in until some retirement benefits are activated and I would want to have several years of experience. Couldn't your family help with child care or perhaps a nanny? I know a lot of people who have live in nanny's and it doesn't seem to cost much, often they are women who enjoy caring for children and want to experience living in another culture.