You're right, the DoE basically runs the plant, I just want to be as smooth a fit as I can be when I apply for that job. They like to hire family and ex-military, nuclear engineers especially. Honestly, though, with as many people as I know that work there, I could scrub toilets for four years at the south pole for the army and have a decent chance at the job. "It's not what you know, it's who you know."
I hadn't thought of the Air Force having that many nuclear tasks, I might look into that some more, there is still some time for me to change course. If I have to search hard for what I want, I'm betting they're not as good a fit, though.