Pros
good work/life balance. There is a strong focus on health and well-being. Get a sense of connection between the work you do, and how it contributes to the mission. Culture and values are at a level acceptable for this type of professional organization.
Cons
* No outside-the-box thinking. Strict adherence to procedures and processes, despite more efficient and effective ways available, due to fear. * Managers and subordinates clearly given the responsibility, but not the authority. * Military organization with command-and-control structure; and therefore, micro-management is prevalent throughout. Civilians can't act or make a decision without first having gone through first, second, third tier, and sometimes higher within the chain-of-command. * Senior management strives to blindly check the boxes or change the questions to get the answer they want. * Very limited opportunity for advancement - pigeon holing * Compensation is as advertised (so can't really complain). But, if looking to make good money, this is NOT the place. Organization is horrific when it comes to bonuses, awards and quality step increases (QSI). * The counter-balance for items listed above used to be job security and benefits, and should expect that to be listed in "Pros." But job security and benefits are constantly under threat from sequestration, furloughs, pay-freezes, and threats by various administrations to cut or change benefits such as pension plans (hence the low rating I gave for comp. and benefits). So, the job is starting to reflect what private companies do, BUT without the associated higher pay. * Almost forgot - training, training, and more training, and not on anything that helps you do your job better - but is probably in line with what you would see at other large organizations (maybe a little bit more).