by AcqGuest » Tue May 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Like the previous DOD_quizzes poster, I too was amazed that I was awarded the scholarship. I went through the same rationale, arguing to myself that "private sector vs public employee will eventually event out" and "better work hours" and "doing something meaningful for the country." After talking with the SF, I was convinced that they would have me doing a line of work that I would be interested in. I committed to the scholarship.
I was looking and expecting something technical and challenging. Instead, I got:
1. Mandatory Defense Acquisition University classes, which, as the previous poster alluded to, have absolutely no technical merit what-so-ever and are a total drag if you're expecting technical work.
2. Managing, including endless meetings, projects executed and engineered by contractors.
3. Occasionally answering system questions by referring to the manual (this is often the only technical documents you will have on-site)
4. Push paper so the government can buy parts.
I found myself at an acquisition facility. There was no opportunity to engineer anything. We didn't have any software or hardware to do such, or "authority" to buy such things. In my experience, everything moved at a snails pace.
I found my employment in phase II extremely disappointing and totally unfulfilling and quit the first chance I could. It really was not what I had hoped for and signed up for.
Please don't just consider the salary and how you'll compare to your peers right out of school. You really need to consider just how much you'll like your job. Trust me, the clock moves incredibly slow when you're miserable. Back when I signed up for SMART, I was really thrilled and excited - I imagine you are too. It's a competitive scholarship, and you should be proud you were selected. But don't let that cloud your judgement on the phase II commitment. If you're looking for something technical, I'd advise you to consider the following points:
1. I would strongly advise to avoid any position that requires you to take DAU classes. It's not that you couldn't put up with them - it's that a DAU coded position indicates quite strongly that you will be in an acquisition track, regardless of what your job description says.
2. I've read those that are in research positions are paid through the "ND" scale. If your position will pay you through anything but this (like GS), I'd strongly reconsider.
3. Through my experience and acquaintances, I'm not convinced that there are serious engineering opportunities available at facilities that describe themselves as "depots" or have "life cycle" or "logistics" in their names. Don't get me wrong - it takes real work to keep current equipment moving. Expect the contractors to be doing this though.
4. Do not be afraid to ask your SF. Get the exact job description, ask what you'll be doing on a day-to-day basis, ask how red tape interferes with the job, what kind of tools you'll be using, etc. I'd strongly encourage you to ask your would-be-supervisor. I had to rely on the S&E HR "specialists" and in retrospect, it is obvious they hit every buzzword they could. If any bit of this makes you feel uneasy, strongly consider the opportunity you've been awarded - misery every day is no fun.
5. If you don't like your job and you decide to leave for the private sector after your commitment, you will very likely have to go through technical interviews. Keeping technical skills sharp and having something to show on your resume is required to make this change.
6. SMART will likely not help you switch SFs during your phase II commitment.
I think there's a perception among college students (myself included) that the government does all of this awesome, cutting-edge research, and has unlimited money, great facilities, and free-reign. SMART's own website features promotional videos instilling this imagine in applicants minds. In my experience, it was impossible to buy anything, our facility was a cubical farm armed with lousy economy desktops, and I couldn't touch a thing. Don't get me wrong - the government does own great facilities such as the various wind and water tunnels at the characteristic test centers. But many of the sponsoring facilities on SMART's list don't have this.
Congratulations on receiving the scholarship! It's an exciting feeling. But please consider other attributes and what you're looking to get out of your experience in the DoD in addition to the salary. It's easy to convince yourself with the SMART and government employment benefits that everything will be OK. Misery from not doing anything or doing anything technical has a pretty high price tag too, and if experienced, you will be reminded of it every weekday for the remainder of your commitment. Do not take it lightly.
Like the previous DOD_quizzes poster, I too was amazed that I was awarded the scholarship. I went through the same rationale, arguing to myself that "private sector vs public employee will eventually event out" and "better work hours" and "doing something meaningful for the country." After talking with the SF, I was convinced that they would have me doing a line of work that I would be interested in. I committed to the scholarship.
I was looking and expecting something technical and challenging. Instead, I got:
1. Mandatory Defense Acquisition University classes, which, as the previous poster alluded to, have absolutely no technical merit what-so-ever and are a total drag if you're expecting technical work.
2. Managing, including endless meetings, projects executed and engineered by contractors.
3. Occasionally answering system questions by referring to the manual (this is often the only technical documents you will have on-site)
4. Push paper so the government can buy parts.
I found myself at an acquisition facility. There was no opportunity to engineer anything. We didn't have any software or hardware to do such, or "authority" to buy such things. In my experience, everything moved at a snails pace.
I found my employment in phase II extremely disappointing and totally unfulfilling and quit the first chance I could. It really was not what I had hoped for and signed up for.
Please don't just consider the salary and how you'll compare to your peers right out of school. You really need to consider just how much you'll like your job. Trust me, the clock moves incredibly slow when you're miserable. Back when I signed up for SMART, I was really thrilled and excited - I imagine you are too. It's a competitive scholarship, and you should be proud you were selected. But don't let that cloud your judgement on the phase II commitment. If you're looking for something technical, I'd advise you to consider the following points:
1. I would strongly advise to avoid any position that requires you to take DAU classes. It's not that you couldn't put up with them - it's that a DAU coded position indicates quite strongly that you will be in an acquisition track, regardless of what your job description says.
2. I've read those that are in research positions are paid through the "ND" scale. If your position will pay you through anything but this (like GS), I'd strongly reconsider.
3. Through my experience and acquaintances, I'm not convinced that there are serious engineering opportunities available at facilities that describe themselves as "depots" or have "life cycle" or "logistics" in their names. Don't get me wrong - it takes real work to keep current equipment moving. Expect the contractors to be doing this though.
4. Do not be afraid to ask your SF. Get the exact job description, ask what you'll be doing on a day-to-day basis, ask how red tape interferes with the job, what kind of tools you'll be using, etc. I'd strongly encourage you to ask your would-be-supervisor. I had to rely on the S&E HR "specialists" and in retrospect, it is obvious they hit every buzzword they could. If any bit of this makes you feel uneasy, strongly consider the opportunity you've been awarded - misery every day is no fun.
5. If you don't like your job and you decide to leave for the private sector after your commitment, you will very likely have to go through technical interviews. Keeping technical skills sharp and having something to show on your resume is required to make this change.
6. SMART will likely not help you switch SFs during your phase II commitment.
I think there's a perception among college students (myself included) that the government does all of this awesome, cutting-edge research, and has unlimited money, great facilities, and free-reign. SMART's own website features promotional videos instilling this imagine in applicants minds. In my experience, it was impossible to buy anything, our facility was a cubical farm armed with lousy economy desktops, and I couldn't touch a thing. Don't get me wrong - the government does own great facilities such as the various wind and water tunnels at the characteristic test centers. But many of the sponsoring facilities on SMART's list don't have this.
Congratulations on receiving the scholarship! It's an exciting feeling. But please consider other attributes and what you're looking to get out of your experience in the DoD in addition to the salary. It's easy to convince yourself with the SMART and government employment benefits that everything will be OK. Misery from not doing anything or doing anything technical has a pretty high price tag too, and if experienced, you will be reminded of it every weekday for the remainder of your commitment. Do not take it lightly.