These days, it seems that more people than ever are pining for careers that don’t involve sitting behind a desk from nine to five. If this sounds like you, there are plenty of options in the cleared space that allow for regular travel. But if you really have a sense of wanderlust, here are a few off-beat options that I’ve encountered over the years.
White House Military Office / White House Communications Agency
The White House Military Office (WHMO) and its component White House Communications Agency (WHCA) provide logistics, travel, and communication services to the President. They are predominantly staffed by active-duty military service members, but their ranks are supplemented by contractors – often former military. Competition is stiff and vetting can be intense. Prospective contractors not only have to answer a highly invasive personal history questionnaire that supplements the SF-86 and covers their entire lifetime, but they also require an additional suitability adjudication for “Presidential Support Duties” beyond the normal security clearance requirements. However, if you can overcome those hurdles, the opportunities available are incredible: working at Camp David, within the White House complex, and traveling worldwide in support of the President.
I engaged with both offices many years ago during my own White House service, and I was highly impressed with the professionalism and expertise of their personnel. In-demand occupational specialties can include various technical disciplines and logistics. Visit https://www.whitehousecommsagency.mil/ for more information about WHCA (WHMO doesn’t appear to have a website), and check ClearanceJobs for relevant contracting opportunities.
Diplomatic Courier
Diplomatic couriers are State Department foreign service employees who escort diplomatic pouches, often containing classified material, between U.S. diplomatic facilities worldwide. The State Department describes the job as requiring a “near-constant state of travel,” and the working conditions can include high-threat environments. There are also some special job requirements, which you can read about here.
In my experience representing foreign service applicants, the most vexing of these requirements is the suitability review by the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service. Unlike a traditional security clearance (also required), in which applicants are judged against a set of objective criteria, foreign service applicant suitability seems to be assessed more subjectively. The Board’s denial letters to applicants reference that the foreign service is “highly competitive.” Most of the denials I’ve seen infer that the applicant is being assessed not against the published standards outlined in the Foreign Affairs Manual, but rather against the next applicant who may not present with the same suitability issues. This can make the foreign service application process frustrating for some applicants who are otherwise able to obtain the required security clearance. Nonetheless, it is an incredible opportunity for someone who dreams of seeing the world. Opportunities are occasionally posted on usajobs.gov.
Overseas Cleared Construction
Finally, contracting opportunities overseas abound for those with construction or project management experience and a security clearance. These jobs involve building, remodeling, or maintaining U.S. government facilities, including U.S. diplomatic missions like embassies and consulates.
Over the years, I’ve seen folks assigned to far-flung and exotic locations that most of us will never have the opportunity to see in our lifetime. When the job is over, these contractors move on to the next gig, frequently spending years at a time overseas without returning to the U.S., but making very good salaries and carrying low expense and tax burdens. To be sure, these jobs require a unique breed of applicant who enjoys a nomadic lifestyle and is willing to forego some usual comforts and conveniences in the U.S.; but they can also be a great opportunity to immerse one’s self in a foreign culture and learn local customs and languages. Find opportunities on ClearanceJobs.com.
This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Although the information is believed to be accurate as of the publication date, no guarantee or warranty is offered or implied. Laws and government policies are subject to change, and the information provided herein may not provide a complete or current analysis of the topic or other pertinent considerations. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
