I've owned and run my own small construction company for over 20 years. Before that I spent 20 years in Fortune 500 corporate America, working my way from entry level management to upper management. I'm well educated (BS & MBA) and experienced. In my business I interact daily with both private industry ("Civilian") and government (City, County, State, and Federal). I've done everything from dig ditches to presenting acquisition plans in a 'Big Oil' boardroom. Currently I'm winding down toward retirement, driving the company dump truck and equipment trailer while I mentor my son as he gets into position to take over the company.
IMHO, there are weak, lazy people in every industry, at every size level, at every employee level. It's really not valid to generalize. I've seen worthless SOBs everywhere. The differentiating factor between an organization that has good, motivated people who really give a $h!t is management, not whether they are civilian or government or large or small. Its the group dynamics of 'the pack' that they work in -- and that falls back to the working microenvironment that that group leader creates. Even a worthless SOB can become a credit to the organization with the right group dynamics and motivation.