I got out in 2002 and worked in the steel industry in maintenance since then. I recently got a job in the nuke field, but not at a power plant. I had several recruiters (and one plant) tell me that getting a job at a power plant with my time away from the nuke field would be difficult at best. I don't know if that's true or not right now, but I do know there are other nuke jobs that aren't in power plants that are easy enough to get into for ex-nukes. All the guys at my new job are mostly just out of the navy, but some have been out much longer than me. I'd guess if you want to get to a power plant some day, getting a job in the field that is more easily available right now could be a good springboard for that goal.