Nothing Wrong With That

This USA Today article annoyed me, but I found it interesting nonetheless.

The Pentagon's use of retired generals and admirals as paid advisers has virtually ceased, plummeting from 355 "senior mentors" in 2010 to four today, according to a report released by the Defense Department's inspector general.

Requirements to disclose their business ties, a cap on pay of $179,700 per year and limits on working for private firms were the reasons the generals and admirals gave for quitting the program, the report said.

Retired officers from several services told investigators they quit because they did not want to disclose their finances publicly. Others pointed to the pay of $86.10 per hour, with a maximum of $179,900 as too low.

The story goes on to quote some POGO guy discussing motivations by implying the motivation was money. Well, DUH! Whether military or non-military, here is a gold plated fact of government service that everyone not in government service needs to realize...

Once someone gets out of government service, they can go make as many bucks as they can without government limitations. My advice - I hope they go make a gazillion bucks and never apologize to anyone for it. The capitalist in me stands up and applauds the idea that a retired 4-star would scoff at $86.10 per hour. Why? Because while I am now a public sector employee, for the better part of my working career I would scoff at $86.10. Telling someone who pays lowest bidders that they can't afford you isn't arrogance, it's reminding someone that your market rate isn't among the low bids.

The inspector general's review of two services — the Navy and Marines — and three combatant commands — Joint Forces, Special Operations and Strategic — found that 194 mentors were advising the military in 2010. By February 2011, out of 183 mentors, 11 had become government employees, and seven have since resigned, according to the report. The Navy, for example, had used 109 senior mentors in 2010; today it has none.

Is this a good thing or bad? I could see legitimate arguments both ways. That is a lot of lost institutional knowledge when the DoD no longer have 109 "mentors" on payroll, but more likely, it was never really about mentoring in the first place.