I realize the search function may yield better results for my questions, but if I could get some real time advice I would very much appreciate it. I have perused the site and forum for a few days now and would like to get some personally tailored advice.

Right now you're looking at someone who is a blank canvas of knowledge to be painted on. I have been working as a systems admin for 4 years in various forms of the DoD. This is a short time, but then again I'm only 21. Over those years, I've been exposed to, and become very interested in network security. For awhile I thought Forensics was where it was at, but I've slowly wandered away from that and in to Pen-Testing.

It's come to a point now where I am forced to take Security+ to keep my job (I only ever got A+ because I had to, I don't believe the certs make the man, the experience and proven applied knowledge do). I figure now that I'm going to take a cert, as rudimentary and basic as it is to some in this field, is going to start me down a security path, I ought to take a look at what is also available to enrich myself with.

So my question for you all, as long winded as I may sound, is...

If you were to give advice to someone who's goal is to become a pen-tester, and that person was at the very beginning of their career path, what would you tell them? What education would they need? What certs should they want?

My idea of what is needed goes as follows:

Sec+
Linux+ or RHEL
CCNA
CEH
OSCP
 
I realize this isn't glamorous or what the movies make it out to be, but it doesn't make me any less interested and it doesn't make me enjoy Sneakers any less either

Thanks for the reply vijay2! I really appreciate it.

I'm forced to do the Security+ first because of rules and regs, but it's completely free for me and I've been studying for it for a few months so I'm not concerned (all the practice exams I've taken have been passing).

I was debating between Net+ and CCNA, but from the sound of it I think I'll go with CCNA. My only caveat with that is how it expires in 3 years. Is it going to be frowned upon if I let it lapse because I've moved on to other subjects. Of course I could always go after one of the Cisco pro exams before my 3 years are up.

Rather then let you CCNA expire, I would just take one test on the pro tracks like you said. That's what I do, and the tests rarely take longer then a month to prepare for depending on your available time.