3 ms·

What are the ideological reasons? Patriotism? Can you clarify?

• dopeboy 4y ago
  Patriotism is a good one. A lot of people want to serve their country but don’t want to run for office. This is one way to exercise your talents and also serve your country.
• ttul 4y ago
  It’s easy to criticize the NSA because what we see in the news is mostly criticism of their failures and mistakes. My understanding from the little information I have ever received from former NSA colleagues is that the work they do is critical for global security. They actually prevent a lot of badness and people who work there feel they are making a difference. The other thing I have gleaned is that the work involves tech that no one else would ever invest in. For example, a former professor of mine worked on an integrated circuit VLSI design that was, at the time, at least 10-fold larger than any commercial chip. Entirely in secret, of course. The salary may not be world-beating, but - from what I can glean - the work is rewarding and meaningful in ways that compensate for the difference in pay.
• aaomidi 4y ago
  Secure retirement?
  • giantg2 4y ago
    Based on the way the government operates today, I feel like the private sector is better. Unless you get defined benefits like police and military. I'm not sure where NSA falls.
    • QuarterReptile 4y ago
      I believe it falls in FERS. https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/ https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/
      • giantg2 4y ago
        That doesn't look very appealing. Even after 30 years you'd only get 33% of your max pay, which is on the low end to begin with (GS13 is about $90k, which gives about $30k in retirement).