ok, Sadly I am a SME on looking for work. I left Camp Bondsteel 12 Jan 2007.
I thought I would be in a cast for 6-8 weeks and then back to work.
Things got complicated. I only managed to rejoin the work force in Oct 2013.
Six years of looking for work, and then returning to school to start a new career.
The job market is that tough. still is
Your degree is less valuable right now that your security clearance. And the clock is ticking on that. If you are ever thinking of using it, go for it now. Once it runs out a lot of the .gov market will ignore you.
Not really interested in .gov work? Think about looking with no work for six years. If you have crappy work, you still have work while looking for something else. With your background I know of a couple of OCONUS guard gigs you could get.
Big money? nope this isn't 2002 anymore, but a years work that can be tax free while you acclimate to civi life in an environment you are familiar with and the ability to remind .mil guys that there are no article 15's in your future.
If you want to stay in NC get on USAJOBS and see if you can leverage your SC into work on Bragg, or the like.
History degree can get you into teaching, I am aware of a program that transitions .mil into teaching, but dont have the details.
You CJ degree will help you get into the State LE, but wont do much for you with local departments as far as money. Larger departments like Greensboro/Charlotte/Raleigh it can help.
You will have to go through the NC Police training, Known as BLET. Again large departments run their own and will pay you while you go. You will get through fine, I was a BLET instructor.
Keep in mind that the economy SUCKS. That hurts everyone especially the state. Less tax revenue, less money funnelled back from the feds, less services, less police, less probation officers, less SBI agents, less new hires.
You can post here, or pm me and I will tell you what I can.
NOI