Iraq,
I know you feeling I retired in 1997 on PDRL, applied for 267 Federal IT jobs that in different angencies. Had a couple interviews nothing know I shoud of had it because in the civilian market place people were loving me and stayed there at a couple major comapanies hired tight after the interview.
Where I am now I have been an IT contractor for them 6 years, so they used the veteran special hiring authority to get me on. Funny thing is now I am about beat and may have to stop working can't take much more. Even thogh they make sure I have all the special accomadations that they can get for me. Don lift anyhing over 5 lbs. But the stress is what gets me. There are a lot more openings coming uu because they found out it is not cheap to hire contractors, no way how they try to justify it. By hiring me they are saving 60K annual.
So go to the inteview be positive that you are hired, because you have alot going for you.