Deployed military w/ MSc Finance to Trading - Undergrad at Penn State with a 3.7

Good evening all,

I am currently deployed to Iraq. When I return I am planning on getting out and giving a go at trading. I have posted here before but I was hoping to get some more substantial feedback than my last attempt. I have served for four years, but already have my MSc in Finance (no not from Princeton or Berkeley), with a quantitative/capital markets emphasis, to include some graduate econ coursework.

My undergrad was Penn State, with a 3.7 GPA.

The goal is to find an entry/associate level job in New York (maybe as a "super" analyst or trading assistant) in equity derivatives, commodities, FX, or fixed income. Places I have resarched include SIG, Simplex, Wolverine, Trillium, the Angle Group, and obviously the big boys; would really prefer NY over Chicago. After securing employment, the plan is to apply to Stern's night program.

Can anybody give me feedback on the current hiring environment? I know it must be brutal considering the economy but I have heard through my network that most of the BB desks are bare bones operations these days; obviously Morgan just hired 400 new traders. As far as the internet is concerned, there are not many ex-military - Street networking venues other than Linkedin & Doostang. Is there anything I can do to strengthen my profile that does not include going to full time MBA school for two years?

I have traded equities on my own for about five years and options for about two and a half, but I realize the fundamental difference of the professional/institutional tradnig environment. I am reading/rereading a lot of the trading holy books while I am out here (Hull, Fabozzi, which I used extensively in grad school, McMillan, Elder and Mark Douglas).

Thanks in advance.