Why is he set on a GS job? Especially a GS5? A married E3 making BAH makes more. Seriously.

A GS job less than 9 is not worth it unless you're making at least 50% disability to make up for the lack of pay. Hell, an E6 makes the equivalent of a GS13 after taxes or even a low level 14 in some high cost areas.

GS jobs are safe and an easy transition, but it's almost always better working as a civilian when it comes to compensation. A GS5 in most areas only make like 40K year starting out. That's pretty pathetic. That's $20 an hour. Someone who has military experience and an Associates degree should be able to make at least $25 an hour/52k a year. And that's in a medium to low cost area.

All I'm saying...no one should put all their eggs in a GS basket unless you have an in. 75% of GS jobs are given becuase they knew a guy. You got hundreds of people fighting for all these low paying GS jobs...I never understood it. Hell, you could drive a forklift and make at least 40-50k, be a warehouse Supervisor for 60k, or be a shift lead for 80k, and none of that requires a lot of experience.