What options do I have? 2nd post - Forgot to mention that I have autism

Stay in corrections. Keep working on a degree that improves your career. Get promoted off of basic guard duty. Be willing to move to a facility that will pay more and put you in supervision roles.

You are real close to being too old to join the military. Most, but not all, "late bloomers" struggle when joining. Depending on your ASVAB/intelligence level you might get stuck in infantry/military police. Especially, if you let the recruiters take advantage of you.

 

Worth getting into trucking at 30? What would you do?
`
41 yrs. old is cutoff age for US Navy Seabee's.

 

Wow! Things have changed since I retired. Used to be 32. Looking at the numbers BMT PT test would be a tall hill for someone near 40 if they don't put in the work/ training, BMT isn't known to train you to pass the PT.

 

I can't agree with that modality, I will however defend your right to do so.

 

I think the SeaBee's higher age limit is to attract experienced construction workers, including construction trucks. I saw many of them get in as high as E-6.
Same with Army officers that were riffed out of the Army with many years active duty. The Navy would enlist them as E-6 Master-at-Arms (Military Police). When they retired from the Navy, they'd get retired pay for the highest rank honorably held, which would their Army Officer rank.
The Navy had an aggressive recruitment program for OSVETS (Other Service Veterans).

 

I did a tour on the USS New Jersey (BB-62) and was talking to Master-at-Arms on there. He was an E-7.
He had been in the Army as a Captain in tanks. He told me sometimes he'd be in that hot tank on top of hill and see those Navy ships cruising by in the Tonkin Gulf. He said he'd daydream about those sailors getting 4 hot meals a day and a bunk to sleep in. Then he was riffed out of the Army when he had something like 15 years in. He went straight to a Navy recruiting office and they put him in as an E-6.
Another Army E-4 did the same. He said, Vietnam sucks, I'll go in the Navy because they don't do shi t. He went in the Navy and right back to Vietnam. He was killed within 2 weeks.

 

Prior Navy service and Other Service Veterans didn't have to go back thru basic training. Two week orientation to learn Navy protocols and get uniforms issued and maybe some shots and that was about it. By the time the orientation was complete, they'd have orders somewhere. The whole process was relaxed and easy. Those veterans were from all the other branches including the US Coast Guard. They liked Navy life because they said it was so laid back as long as you just did you job as you're supposed to. No gung-ho crap to deal with; just do your job and be professional about that.
I don't know how all that works in today's Navy. Enlistments are at an all time high right now.

 

I only know 2 people who are on the spectrum. Both also have ADHD. In fact, as I understand it, ADHD is common in these situations. If you also have ADHD and are taking any medications with an Amphetamine in them, even if you could get an MEs approval to take them, I doubt you will find a carrier that would hire you. I would advise not quitting the corrections gig. I know several people in law enforcement who started as turnkeys.