Booz Allen/SAIC/L3/WarPigs Versus Gov't Intel Agency Career...Your Opinions (Reston: student loans, houses)

[reeze]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Right, but instead of struggling to live on $52,000 here I could live comfortably on $40,000 there. Turning down that job offer back "home" is something that I always toss around in my mind since my quality-of-life declined terribly since I moved to Reston.

You'll probably have to retire there also.

[reeze]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Not really. I knew a trade-off with working for the government was lousy pay.

If you can work your way up to a GS-15 or SES with the locality pay that you're getting, you'll be fine.

[LVMYDACH]

Originally Posted by reeze

That's your opinion of your marketability, but you're not the hiring manager. Most guvies never leave the government because they're too used to having goof off time and can't adjust to the rigors of the private sector. That's why there's a big market in hiring private contractors to do the work the government should be doing instead of having goof off time.

If you move back to Scranton, you'll be taking a pay cut also.

I think you should change your comment from "Most guvies" to "Some guvies" because there are many hardworking government employees that CAN and DO work up to the same rigors of employees in the private sector. My husband is one of those employees who works for the Department of Defense and spends many weekends working overtime supporting our national defense. I take issue with your comment because it's not fair to portray "most guvie" employees as being lazy and having time to goof off on their job!

[rvasonicbloom]

Originally Posted by LVMYDACH

I think you should change your comment from "Most guvies" to "Some guvies" because there are many hardworking government employees that CAN and DO work up to the same rigors of employees in the private sector. My husband is one of those employees who works for the Department of Defense and spends many weekends working overtime supporting our national defense. I take issue with your comment because it's not fair to portray "most guvie" employees as being lazy and having time to goof off on their job!

Bull. All government workers spend countless hours doing nothing, going out to long lunches, socializing, golfing, long "presentations" and "meetings". It's all about image. You probably have no idea what your husband does. How does he really spend his hours at work? Maybe he's just not efficient and has to come in on the weekends to finish work that other people usually finish during the week. The private sector is actually based on capitalism and provides incentives for people to work hard and people arn't paid butt-loads of money unless they work their arses off. So don't throw that DOD crap at me like he deserves some special treatment.

[LVMYDACH]

Originally Posted by rvasonicbloom

Bull. All government workers spend countless hours doing nothing, going out to long lunches, socializing, golfing, long "presentations" and "meetings". It's all about image. You probably have no idea what your husband does. How does he really spend his hours at work? Maybe he's just not efficient and has to come in on the weekends to finish work that other people usually finish during the week. The private sector is actually based on capitalism and provides incentives for people to work hard and people arn't paid butt-loads of money unless they work their arses off. So don't throw that DOD crap at me like he deserves some special treatment.

You know your comment is extremely rude. You have no idea what my husband does in his position with DoD, therefore, you have no right to be so critical of him. He works long hours because his position requires it, not because he's a slacker as you suggest. FYI - I do know what his work load is because I worked in the same DoD agency doing the SAME job prior to becoming a stay at home Mom. It is a very demanding job with intense pressure. Not all DoD or government workers are losers! It really upsets me that people can be so nasty sometimes on this messageboard. There is absolutely no excuse for it.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by LVMYDACH

I think you should change your comment from "Most guvies" to "Some guvies" because there are many hardworking government employees that CAN and DO work up to the same rigors of employees in the private sector. My husband is one of those employees who works for the Department of Defense and spends many weekends working overtime supporting our national defense. I take issue with your comment because it's not fair to portray "most guvie" employees as being lazy and having time to goof off on their job!

I'm sorry, I think "supporting our national defense" is a lot more than sitting in an office for a bunch of hours. Both my parents wore the uniform (Air Force) for over 20 years. One uncle just came back from Iraq and one is in Afghanistan now (both Army.) Anybody can sit in an office, it takes a tough person to put on the uniform. Most guvies is probably unfair but I'll say a sizeable number of guvies.

[rvasonicbloom]

Originally Posted by LVMYDACH

You know your comment is extremely rude. You have no idea what my husband does in his position with DoD, therefore, you have no right to be so critical of him. He works long hours because his position requires it, not because he's a slacker as you suggest. FYI - I do know what his work load is because I worked in the same DoD agency doing the SAME job prior to becoming a stay at home Mom. It is a very demanding job with intense pressure. Not all DoD or government workers are losers! It really upsets me that people can be so nasty sometimes on this messageboard. There is absolutely no excuse for it.

It's just how the government works. It's not your fault and don't take it personally. Don't expect special treatment though like you're doing the USA a favor. It's not like your husband is on foot out in Iraq. It doesn't matter what his role is, the DOD is notorious for lackluster and poor performance with an undercurrent of beurocracy that enables anything competitent to be achieved without excessive spending.

You did the same job as your husband prior? Must be nice to be able to switch in and out like that...What type of position is this?

[reeze]

Originally Posted by rvasonicbloom

Bull. All government workers spend countless hours doing nothing, going out to long lunches, socializing, golfing, long "presentations" and "meetings". It's all about image. You probably have no idea what your husband does. How does he really spend his hours at work? Maybe he's just not efficient and has to come in on the weekends to finish work that other people usually finish during the week. The private sector is actually based on capitalism and provides incentives for people to work hard and people arn't paid butt-loads of money unless they work their arses off. So don't throw that DOD crap at me like he deserves some special treatment.

It's just the way the government is structured that allows guvies to live off the fat of the land. They include:

• Guaranteed cost of living adjustment every year regardless of performance.
• All holidays off.
• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• Low cost medical coverage.
• Large contractor staff to help them do their jobs either due to incompetence or lack of enough guvies in the office to get the job done.

There are a lot of competent and high performing guvies, but overall, you're more likely to find mediocrity vice stellar performance.

I think the Pentagon tried to move towards a performance based pay structure, but it was shot down. Most wanted pay based on time served regardless of performance.

If you think the federal government is bad, the state/city government (e.g. DC) is probably worse. In VA, it was just announced that there's a $400 mil surplus, and government workers will be getting 3% bonuses.

[LVMYDACH]

Oh my God, I hope my daughter, who is starting grad school at VCU in Richmond in a few weeks, doesn't run into this certain person at a bar in the Fan. That could be her Dad's worst nightmare!

[reeze]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

I'm sorry, I think "supporting our national defense" is a lot more than sitting in an office for a bunch of hours. Both my parents wore the uniform (Air Force) for over 20 years. One uncle just came back from Iraq and one is in Afghanistan now (both Army.) Anybody can sit in an office, it takes a tough person to put on the uniform. Most guvies is probably unfair but I'll say a sizeable number of guvies.

Not everyone working at the Pentagon was/is military. There are plenty of civilians that work there.