Incentives target special ops troops

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon has approved an incentives package designed to retain special operations troops in the military, Pentagon officials said Friday.

The package -- approved December 22 for $168 million over three years -- is aimed at keeping Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets and other troops trained to fight terrorists from taking lucrative positions with security contractors or other government agencies, the officials said.

The incentives are directed at troops with a good deal of wartime experience and highly specialized skills that take considerable time and money to replace.
...
Depending on how long special ops troops commit to stay with the military, they could receive an additional $8,000 to $150,000 beyond their regular salaries.
...
Pentagon officials say that a good number of these troops are reaching a point of retirement, and the military wants more special ops troops to stay past 20 years of service, the customary eligible retirement point for troops.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/21/special.ops.pentagon/index.html

[NYC]

1. This part is hilarious.

...aimed at keeping Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets and other troops trained to fight terrorists from taking lucrative positions with security contractors or other government agencies, the officials said.

Too much outsourcing? Serves them right.

[UL_Approved]

2. Many things wrong here

It appears that the military has to acknowledge the loss of troops to anti-war sentiment, bad deployments, and unrealistic goals. This gesture in itself shows that the troops aren't that behind the war.

Another thing that I wonder about is payment. I wonder how many of these people will actually see this money when they are done serving. And why would it be more lucrative to go to a private firm anyway? Shouldn't all of those BILLIONS be going in some part to providing good, competitive pay for our military personnel? I'll bet the RW supporters never thought about that one...

In the days of the Roman Empire, soldiers were the highest paid group of citizens overall. The slaves that served in the armies also received compensation. Now, we see our military personnel taking the role of service jobs to the military. It's some pay, but it could be better. Namely for those just starting out and retired enlisted personnel...

[oneighty]

3. Our Christian Military

have become the modern day Janissaries marching to the drums of Muslim Iraqis that would control and enslave their own people.

An army of millionaire mercenaries that might soon become the rulers is in the making.

Hey you never know.

180

[Solly Mack]

4. They are leaving off the fact that many Special Ops have DIED

in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Rentention is a problem but so are the deaths.