recruiter: "perfect, you seem the kind of guy we're looking for this role. but can you explain this gap in your resume?"
me: "I'm sorry but I've signed an NDA(non-disclosure agreement)"

Even if you have worked on military projects, they usually allow you to list the company and a vague description of your job. Sometimes you may even name the project and the technologies.

@lastNick who said anything about projects or job

I wrote it somewhere else in a rant...

Saying you signed an NDA and cannot disclose *any* information is a red flag during an interview.

The interviewer has no chance to verify your story, nor do they know whether you have gained any experience in that time.

Stretch the dates… fill the gaps… 🧙‍♂️

or just use some fancy corporate-y wording to descibe your free time activities. just throw it under "community/non-profit work"

DnD is a good example: https://hiddenfrontdoor.org/how-to-...