Six-Figure Bonuses Retain U.S. Commandos
 

Six-Figure Bonuses Retain U.S. Commandos
October 12, 2007 - 8:37am
By RICHARD LARDNER

Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon has paid more than $100 million in bonuses to veteran Green Berets and Navy SEALs, reversing the flow of top commandos to the corporate world where security companies such as Blackwater USA are offering big salaries.
The retention effort, started nearly three years ago and overseen by U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Fla., has helped preserve a small but elite group of enlisted troops with vast experience fighting the unconventional wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Defense Department statistics.

http://wtop.com/?nid=116&pid=0&sid=1265710&page=1#

..........because you guys deserve it, and more.

It's also the realization that, at 20 years, you're only working for 50% of your normal salary.;)

And for most ranks, the fogey raises stop shortly after 20 years of service. Up, out, or hit a glass ceiling.

I am not sure that the bonus drives the train. It is a band-aid for retaining more senior (E-7 through E-9) SF personnel over 20. By and large, they are not your team guys. A better question would be what are we doing to retain our younger and mid-career NCOs?

TR

Sounds like some people are tired of seeing SF Staff NCO's get out just to go and get hired by some private security firm.
Throwing money at the situation might not fix the problem in this case.

With a chance to lose it all
 

Once you go over 20 you're working for 1/2 pay with a chance to lose it all if some general wants to make brownie points by charging you with murder.

Gee, where have I read about that in the recent past?:mad:

Pete

When given the opportunity I asked General Brown about this about a year and a half ago. He stated that it got eaten up in Congress, and the Bonuses for the Senior guys was hard enough to get, without getting more fat (for other bills), and chopped up through the process.

I agree that the guys in over 10, that are looking at in or out, should be targeted especially, but I would doubt if you will see anything else coming down the pike.

I just hope that the bonus will still be there in another 1 1/2 yrs when I become eligible, especially if we have a party change!!!!!


Also why Ive stated that we need to go back to a 100% retirement w/benefits and start paying extra after 20, as well as being Tax Free for life at 20 yrs.


A man can dream, can't he?

Did you ask him how many billion per year SOCOM spends on infil platforms?

How about JSOC and their units? Did you ask him how much they were given in bonuses and specialty pays?

SF is the most cost effective force in SOCOM. Period.

TR

While I agree with you in concept I don't believe we'll ever see much more dollars targeting those levels.

Believe it or not, there just isn't a problem with guys getting out at that level. Everybody talks about it, but when push comes to shove we as a Regiment dont lose that many guys over the 10 year mark and those individuals are already targeted with the highest bonuses allowed. The Army G1 views bonus money as a "lever" to apply to correct a problem; if there was a problem at those years of service we would quickly throw more money at it. Its just not there.

There WAS a problem with guys retiring to take the high paying contract work at 20-22 years. Thats when we tagged along onto the CSRB program. So far its been effective, with roughly 60% of those eligible taking some portion of the bonus.

I think the CSRB will be around for a long time, at least through the growth of the 4th Battalions so you should be fine in a year or so.

Of course I'm out of the loop by a few months so STU, feel free to jump in and add your .02 on the current incentive situation.

mp

Required Reading for Active Army Special Forces QP's
 

I jusr received the Fall Issue 2007 of "The Drop",and I read the article by Major General(R) James A. Guest Titled "The Long Farewell", In the article he mentions The Capstone Concept of Special Operations being developed for USSOCOM includes the concept "Global Expeditionary Forces," and all indications point to an intent to replace the SF Groups with this new concept."The Capstone Concept referenced in this article is available for download at www.specialforcesassociation.org. Regards,tom kelly

hey tom, where on that site is that concept? I can't find it. anyone??

So true, TR. So true.... AC and RC , SF accomplishes miracles with the funding that it's given. We get peanuts percentage-wise of the total budget.

Here's a different link to Capstone...........

http://www.veteransofspecialforces.org/



As far as the Mid term guys go, ask yourself the same in a couple of years when the X-ray's come to reenlist.........just hypothesizing here, but I would imagine if the money is still in contracting, well then why not?

Not saying that this will happen, but I know that when I got to Group I knew it was a career, that was me at 7 yrs........wonder what the kids with 4 in will think? Its a lot different when looking down that long road, your mileage may differ.

It's already come. I had a break in service and following 9/11 I tried to come back in under an Infantry contract. Couldn't get it, but got a waiver in on an 18X contract. I was in the second group of 18X's to ship. A couple months ago, I linked up with one of those guys in a school and we talked about who got out and who reenlisted. The best numbers we have been able to come up with is less then 10% reenlisted and half of those where guys with prior service.

There was talk about 2 years ago of a mid-career retention pay that would start for guys when they crossed the 8-year mark and would inclementally rise as a soldiers time in service increased. I was over-12 and it calculated out for me at just over $800/month. IIRC, USASOC was the one behind it and the money was going to be shelled out of their budget, but problems arose when they asked DA to fund half of it.

I'd be curious to see the official number's for this. Has anyone seen any studies done on it?

My understanding is that the actual reenlistment number so far for 18Xs is about 40%, which while it surprised me, was viewed as acceptable.

TR