Government and Defense

THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYS more than 20 million citizens, who all commit to serving America daily. Career paths within the public sector include defense, security, health services, administration, fiscal services, medical, science, technological research, and more.

Because of the vast scope of available roles, career opportunities and your potential impacts are nearly limitless. Let your military experience be a foundation for your continued success.

Government and Defense
Government and defense are their own distinct sectors but are often closely related in the form of the Department of Defense (DoD) and government defense contracts. The U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) is the network of people, organizations, facilities, and resources that provide the U.S. government, mainly the DoD, with defense-related materials, products, and services.

The DIB covers a wide variety of entities, including:

• Commercially operated firms (like RTX, Leidos, and more)
• Research centers and university laboratories (like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
• Government-owned facilities (like military installations, courthouses, and weapons storage centers)
• Technologically sophisticated weapons platforms (like submarines, drones, and missile systems)
• And highly specialized operational support (like intelligence analysis, cyber warfare, and aerospace support)

While government employees are employed through federal or state government and receive benefits that can compound with military experience, those employed under federal contracts do not receive the same benefits. Contracted agencies are responsible for offering employees their own insurance, paid time off, or incentives.

Opportunities for the Military Community
The DoD is the employer of choice for nearly one million civilian workers across the globe and works alongside over 100,000 companies and their subcontractors through the DIB.

Within the DoD, there are over 650 different occupations across 33 agencies, with opportunities ranging from internships and entry-level positions to senior-level roles worldwide. Government and defense both rely on a vast wealth of disciplines and experience to fulfill their critical missions.

If you have an interest in areas like administration management and support, cyber and information technology, Foreign Affairs, intelligence, law enforcement, education, science, technology, mathematics, trades and services, and so much more; consider a career in support of government entities and the DoD.

The military community has firsthand experience and knowledge applicable to almost every mission in government and defense. A transition met with continued service could be a viable option for many service members interested in serving outside of uniform.

The Compound Effect
Military service can have a significant impact on retirement benefits for individuals seeking government roles. The federal government offers a military credit program allowing individuals with prior military service, who did not retire, to receive credit from their service towards federal or state retirement benefits.

Military service credit can increase the length of service used to calculate retirement pensions, resulting in higher benefits. There are also options for military retirees looking to utilize their service towards a government pension.

While many state and local governments have military credit programs, retirement benefits differ by state. Always check with your specific state human resources division for a clear understanding of benefits offered for government service.1

If weighing potential opportunities between a government or government contract position, remember that your military time-in-service may only be applicable to government-specific roles. While each sector has incredible benefits, be mindful not to confuse your eligibility when considering both.

Preparation
Government service (outside of defense contracting) is a unique sector, and often has its own rules in the job search community. Prepare yourself, your resume, and your calendar for the road ahead.

• The Process: Be diligent in researching roles and requirements and be prepared for a lengthy hiring process. There are often many considerations that impact a requisition, so maintain flexibility throughout your search. The most common practice for government requisitions is to receive applications, screen applicants for minimum qualifications, and test applicants for special skills or knowledge (if applicable). Applicants are then rated and placed on an eligibility list. Top rated candidates are referred to hiring managers for consideration and then interviewed. Once an offer is made, a background check is conducted. Candidates are not an official hire until the background check is conducted and considered acceptable.

• The Resume: Applying for a federal job requires a federal resume. Resumes must adhere to strict formatting requirements to be successful in a federal applicant tracking system. Federal resumes require a great deal of detail. In fact, the information required for a federal position might mean that your resume doubles in length. Some great resources for creating your federal resume can be found at Sec.gov, The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), or by attending a RecruitMilitary Federal Resume Webinar. Each provide detailed examples of what you should include on your resume, including template suggestions.

  • Under the header of your resume, consider listing the following:
    • Security clearance
    • Citizenship status
    • General Schedule (GS) grade (if applicable)
    • Federal Experience (Federal and state government or DoD experience)
    • Special hiring authority (veteran preference, disability, military spouse, etc.)
      
  • Under the employment history of your resume, consider listing the following:
    • Total hours worked per week for each job you include in your history
    • Supervisor’s contact information
    • Responsibilities and skills acquired from each role

The Waiting Game
The most difficult aspect of applying for government service or defense roles can be the uncertainty in timelines. In government, some roles are preemptively sourced with the expectation that someone will be leaving in the future, meaning roles are not yet available for immediate start. If you do receive and accept a tentative offer of employment, it may also take a few weeks to a few months before you start the job. In defense, contract negotiation and signatures may provide uncertainty in role renewals or start times. Consider the potential effects on your finances, timeline planning, and familial considerations.

Federal Employment Preference
Many roles within the federal government are eligible for veteran or military spouse preference. Veterans’ preference is a tool to assist the military community in placement into federal government positions. Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans’ preference.

This means that veterans and spouses are entitled to preference markers over other applicants in certain competitive appointment hiring processes. Visit the OPM for more information on veterans’ preference and how it may apply to you.