March 30, 2004


Tax-Cut Eligible

So, the private security companies that bill by the second for services rendered now want to hire the soldiers from Special Forces and probably other branches who have Iraq on their resumes.

Senior American commanders and Pentagon officials are warning of an exodus of the military's most seasoned members of Special Operations to higher-paying civilian security jobs in places like Baghdad and Kabul, just as they are playing an increasingly pivotal role in combating terror and helping conduct nation-building operations worldwide.

Senior enlisted members of the Army Green Berets or Navy Seals with 20 years or more experience now earn about $50,000 in base pay, and can retire with a $23,000 pension. But private security companies, whose services are in growing demand in Iraq and Afghanistan, are offering salaries of $100,000 to nearly $200,000 a year to the most experienced of them.
...
Evidence of a drain of seasoned Special Operations members, including elite Delta Force soldiers, is largely anecdotal right now, but the head of the military's Special Operations Command, Gen. Bryan D. Brown of the Army, is so concerned about what he is hearing from troops in the field that he convened an unusual meeting of his top commanders in Washington last week to discuss the matter. "The retention of our special operating forces is a big issue," General Brown said.

Last December, he gathered 20 senior members of the Navy Seals and Army Green Berets and Air Force commandos and their spouses, at his headquarters in Tampa, Fla., for a weeklong session to discuss career-extending sweeteners, like special pay bonuses and educational benefits. A special panel is now reviewing those recommendations.

I honestly don't know how much of a sweetner it would be for those guys, from my experience with the same thing when the Airlines were hiring, guys who were going to leave weren't sticking around no matter how "sweet the pot" was, and the Navy/DoD made it pretty sweet money-wise. But families inherently don't like to be separated, no matter how much money you kick in, and guys who love the military just love it and would not trade it for anything. Hell, I used to pinch myself when I was sitting in the cockpit flying over some freeway or town thinking about all those folks down there who kept me up there...it's not always the money, benefits or tangible things that factor into retention. Especially for guys who do the Special Forces thing. I'm betting a lot of guys who would have stayed anyway will sign on for more to get the "extras", they deserve it anyhow.
posted by Jo Fish on 03.30.04 at 01:53 AM





Comments:

Is this a potential form of Washington's revolving door for former government officials? Are the employers relying upon government contracts to fill their coffers and expect that former military officials will be of assistance in that regard? It seems as if many military leaders involved with "wars" after Vietnam retire shortly after their war is over and end up with huge compensation arrangements in the private sector. Is this due to what they know or whom they know?

 posted by: Shag from Brookline on 03.30.04 at 09:35 AM [permalink]

interesting, especially considering that i noticed this book on the shelves last night: Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry.

 posted by: DesertJo on 03.30.04 at 12:24 PM [permalink]

Move the kids to Baghdad, great job opportunites...

Privatitzation is the best answer, and the armed thugs of the former Ba'ath elite and republican guard now terrorises entire communities with no oversight and nobody to stop them.

That we have people under orders to help oversee these thugs is a discredit to our soldiers. The ones coming back for this do not fall into a patriotic category either.

The only reason they could do so is this- they could qualify for ovetime pay with military training in that line of work... it is a different story here soon.

 posted by: Mr.Murder on 03.30.04 at 03:46 PM [permalink]

Not soldiers coming, going back for privatised warfare is the "coming back" context. No intent to diss ours returning of course.

There are some soldiers of worth whom good citizens in Iraq would welcome back of course.

Having a homesteader's claim in Mess-o-potamia like this would be a new take. The new Nebraska?

 posted by: Mr.Murder on 03.30.04 at 03:51 PM [permalink]

This seems really similar to the German idea of Lebensraum that Adolf was so enamored of. Gives me the creeps, and I probably *know* some of these guys. . .

Oww.

 posted by: smaug on 03.30.04 at 06:13 PM [permalink]

I'd bet $ that the companies that are doing the recruiting are DynCorp, International Charter, and or Military Professional Resources.

These companies are mercs for hire and they SPECIALIZE in Peacekeeping situations.

The bigger questions are, "Are we making the slow transition to these companies being in charge by the end of July?" and "If these companies are in charge, is there any governmental oversight because it doesn't exist right now?"

 posted by: djhlights on 03.30.04 at 08:19 PM [permalink]


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