Contracting is lucrative. Get a Security+ and then stand on a street corner with your DD214 in Northern Virginia. Someone will hire you. It is possible to be an ISSO with next to no knowledge/experience and an IAT II.

I know that in the Army, you’ve been talked to like a dog. It was probably on an infrequent basis.

In low tier support, you will be talked to like a subhuman on a frequent basis, and it won’t be from people you respect.

You don’t want to go from a relatively alpha male profession to low level support. The condescension and mean spirited conduct you’ll encounter are just unreal. You probably know how to harm people with relative efficiency, and trust me, in end user support, you’re going to want to harm people.

It is a daily struggle for me to maintain the facade required by a customer facing role.

Getting an MS in MIS would be beneficial if you had the experience to accompany it. If you want a better return on your time and investment, consider a BS in CompSci. I think we’ve been in the “automate or get automated” phase of the job market for some time. Having programming chops can’t hurt.

Also, I recommend finding a euphemism for 11B or just leaving your military service off of your resume. It’s fine if you’re applying to defense contractors, but to everyone else, it’ll make you a potential liability.

Good luck on the outside!