Don't limit yourself to Lockheed.

I've mentioned this a couple times now on this forum, but I too haven't flown in 3 years, and I have decided to go with a non-flying job that will allow me to have a level transition leaving at the 11 year point. My flying experience and what I've been doing the past 3 years got me the job, the TS/SCI got me the pay. I was upfront with the VP who hired me that I intended to make a level transition. He was a prior mil guy and knew the pay chart. I named a number (that took into account BAH, tax advantage, etc), and they gave it to me with no negotiation. I'm definitely not the greatest thing since sliced bread, I'm just a guy with a skill that can't be taught overnight, and certainly not something a young pup fresh out of school can do. Again, its not a flying job. I'll hopefully get a flying job in the reserves that will satisfy the itch to fly, but the non-flying job will pay the bills. And, to top it off, its a job that is very likely to weather out the price of oil, fluctuations in the economy, and the politics of whomever is elected during any given Nov.

I may end up hating it, who knows, but in the short term, it will pay the bills until I decide that I really want to make it a career or look for something else. It will also buy me some time to see how things shake out in the aviation field the next 3-5 years. I know the guys in the office, we get along well, I like the work, and anticipate that it will most likely be my new career. Hopefully the grass doesn't turn brown too quickly.