20th SUPCOM CBRNE - a great opportunity or a great career-killer. It's hard to tell which. - Chemist US Army Employee Review

2.0
Nov 30, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The 20th SUPCOM CBRNE Analaytical and Remediation Activity (CARA) is a relatively recently formed civilian unit - you allegedly get an opportunity to participate in forming the structure of the organization. It is a fully deployable unit, so people who want the opportunity to go on OCONUS missions should consider applying here. Like many Army positions, there is a big emphasis on training, so you will learn some skills. For civilians, it's a good place to get some tactical experience.

Cons

The upper management of the 20th does little to communicate to CARA what its vision of our future is. It's unknown what we'll be doing six months or a year from now. Simple requests like permission to do PT during work hours is held in limbo for months. The infrastructure is poor - even basic office furniture is impossible to get. I can't even get a small bookcase; all my stuff is piled on my desk. The IT is so locked down that our computers are almost non-functional. Starting next year we will need a PIN just to make phone calls. I understand there are security needs, but it's getting ridiculous.

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4.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pros: Working in the Army provides strong opportunities for leadership development, professional growth, and responsibility at an early stage. The organization builds discipline, accountability, resilience, and the ability to operate under pressure. It also offers stable pay, benefits, retirement opportunities, education benefits, healthcare, and access to advanced training. For individuals who want to lead teams, manage operations, solve complex problems, and serve a larger mission, the Army provides valuable experience that can transfer into civilian careers in operations, program management, training, logistics, compliance, security, and leadership.

Cons

Cons: The Army can be demanding because the mission often comes first, which can affect work-life balance, family time, and personal flexibility. Frequent changes in priorities, long hours, additional duties, administrative requirements, and high operational tempo can create stress and burnout. Career progression can also depend on timing, assignments, leadership, and organizational needs, not just individual performance. While the Army provides strong leadership experience, some military roles and accomplishments can be difficult to translate clearly to civilian employers without careful resume and profile wording.

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