Vantaggi
The work is very well compensated for the level of education/experience required. There is a six-year pay scale whereby year six = 100% and year one = 75%. So if you're looking for a job that pays better than retail, hospitality or airlines, you've found it.
Svantaggi
In order to qualify for a set schedule, you have to work on an "on-call" basis until permanent positions are available. Of course you will have a guaranteed salary during this time, but you won't have any days off scheduled in advance. This is know as working on the "Extra Board" Work is 48 hours on, 48 hours off. After 48 hours off, you're back on call. If you have any hope of career development, be prepared to move to another state in pursuit of that management job. I stayed in the same location for six years. Only those who moved to D.C. or elsewhere rose in the ranks.