National Security Agency reviews

It can be competitive to the point that it's unhealthy. Even when there is really no competition to be had (i.e. military and contractor or civilian employee), there are people who hoard information as a sort of job security method. If you aren't high ranking it can be difficult to get your voice heard. It can be cliquey and petty sometimes but there are folks there with the right mentality. You just have to observe awhile to pick them out. Fort Meade's parking situation is miserable unless you're a very early riser and can arrive by/around 6:00 AM. Otherwise, it can be a five-to-fifteen minute walk from your car or a shuttle ride so it's important to plan accordingly. Also, the traffic getting there can be very trying but this is normal for the DC Metro area. It's virtually impossible for the civilians to get fired unless they compromise their clearance in some way so there is little inspiration to treat their people well. They tend to harbor resentment towards military for having to be taken away from their desks frequently due to non-mission obligations.

Hard to know where to begin. NSA is a Combat Support Agency, but doesn't really live up to the standards of military service (I am a retired military officer - my prior career). They like to wear the trappings of DoD culture but don't actually live that lifestyle. They accept bullying and bigotry (not experienced, but observed repeatedly), and do not hold people accountable. They recently revised their core values and actually *removed* accountability from them, which seems fitting. They will admire their problems for years, but take no actions. Behavior at the Senior Executive ranks resembles a country club - go along to get along, don't challenge one another, and keep your reserved parking at all costs. Ironically, their advisor, Simon Sinek, has a book called Leaders Eat Last but they sure do not at NSA.