Getting a Technical Illustrator job.

How did you get your start doing Technical Illustrator work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

I like working with my hands.
I was in the Marine Corps working as a Jet Engine Mechanic. I was promoted to the Staff ranks, and was then doing adminestrative work. At the end of my 8th year I needed a change. Examining my enviroment, I found what intriged me the most was the pictures in the tech manual we worked from.
I wanted to do those pictures. They were calisified as Technical Illustrations.
I needed to become a Tech. Illustrator/
Once out, I took advantage of the GI bill and aquire a degree in Design Drafting and Technical Illustration in California.
I started my career as a Design Draftsperson, then as a Technical Illustrator.
That was over 15 years ago. Regrets = nope.
Samples of current work;
www.2ndstring1st.com/HTML/Resume/resume.html

I went to college and received my associates in technical illustration and immediately started working for the automotive industry, I was there for almost 13 years. I saw how things were changing in that industry and tried everything I could to get out. What eventually worked was freelancing part time to a company in a different industry, this lead to an excellent full time job with them.