What are my options from Navy to Federal Agent?

Thinking of joining Navy but would really like to become officer. Wondering what my options would be to pursue that first. STA-21, OCS... (how do they work? are they options for me?) recruiter wasn't very helpful. How important would Naval Officer status be for Federal job placement? Definitely something they'd look at? Only have 3 college credits and am 25 yr old family man. Wife, step-child, and baby on the way. Tried a film career for 7 years. Waste of time. Need to do something secure, lucrative, and meaningful. No prior Military or Law enforcement.



Thinking of Navy, College, and maybe federal job w/ FBI, NSA, or Homeland Security as possibilities. For Navy MOS thinking of Intel, Info Warfare, Crypto, Signals Analysis etc. Work toward degree and becoming a commissioned officer, then pursuing gov't job when tour is over. Been told by Navy recruiter at my age and thus far less than mediocre school records, nobody will waste an NROTC scholarship on me but rather save them for the fresh ones from high school with good GPAs and such.



Considering possibilities of FBI Special Agent, NSA Investigator, Intelligence Analyst, Homeland, etc.



Don't have a lot of time to waste, as government jobs have mandatory retirement at 57, and I'm now 25 and have a lot of work to do to get where I need to be.



What are most Federal jobs going to look at for consideration?



-JWhat are my options from Navy to Federal Agent?
it is easier for them to do background checks







mark kWhat are my options from Navy to Federal Agent?
There are a lot of people thinking the same way you are. Many of them enlisted and worked in intel, achieved a degree while in the military, and will be getting out to land jobs with the federal government. It is not difficult, you just need to stay straight. Realize that those agencies all require you to have minimal if not no prior drug use history, no bad credit, and no history of criminal offenses. You will be required to take a polygraph, and whether you think they work or not, any inclination that you are not telling the truth will disqualify you.
Well making your career plans, based on being accepted for STA-21



Is quite a stretch.



Since only about 35 sailors each year make to cut and are selected.



You would need great grades from college you have taken.



Plus great ACT or SAT scores.



Being a military officer, isn't really gonna help much.



They are more interested in what your degree is in and if you have graduate school.



FBI wants either police experience or a graduate degree.



NSA wants a a graduate degree , plus foreign language ability



Without STA-21



You are longing at around 6 years plus, to get a BS degree.



With a family, probally longer.
I doubt officers are looked on any better than enlisted.



If you want to go intel (linguist) in the Navy, you will be promoted to E-4 automatically upon graduation from your language course. There were Navy guys in my class and they made E-4 with less than a year in the Navy like that. Then they all tested and got promoted to E-5 a year and a half later.



You will have a through background check, and will be polygraphed. Be honest and up-front about everything. If you lie, it jeopardizes your chances.



M.I. is a great way to break into government work.
Most of the 3 letter agencies give priority to ex-military with good service records. What branch you choose and where you go may influence what federal job you are suited to. An intelligence officer can easily transfer into civilian intelligence work. To be an ATF or ICE agent you would be better off going into a more ground combat oriented branch such as Army or Marine infantry.



Officer and enlisted matters for some of the agencies, and does not matter for others. You will definitely want to finish college first either way. OCS will make you an officer with better pay, but may limit your ability to choose what branch you go into. Enlisting, provided you score high enough, will allow you to choose an intelligence related job. I highly recommend something in Army HUMINT, as it will allow you to deploy and gain actual wartime experience.



Federal jobs are going to look at the conduct of your discharge, your years in service, and your experience. (Hence the recommendation to go Army, as you will be able to actually do your intelligence job in real world scenario.)