Top military brass double dipping on pensions and salaries while working for defense contractors

[happy_liberal]

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates' top deputy will brief the Joint Chiefs of Staff on his recommendations to regulate the Pentagon's practice of hiring retired senior officers to advise the military, Gates' spokesman said.

Gates ordered Deputy Secretary William Lynn in December to review the military's practice of paying retired officers hundreds of dollars an hour to act as "senior mentors," helping run war games and advising active-duty officers.

Gates was responding to a USA TODAY investigation, which reported that most of the mentors had ties to defense contractors and that there were few ethics rules governing potential conflicts of interest. The newspaper reported that some mentors were earning more as advisers than they did as active-duty generals, even as they collected six-figure pensions and consulted with defense companies seeking Pentagon contracts.

In the months leading up to the review, Gates has expressed concern about mentors' pay, which can reach $486 an hour. Mullen said in November that mentors must avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest...

USA TODAY found that of the 158 retired generals and admirals identified as mentors, 80% had financial ties to defense contractors, including 29 who were full-time executives of defense companies. The retired officers, hired as contractors, have not been subject to the ethics rules that would apply if they were brought in as part-time federal employees. They have not had to disclose, to the military or the public, their ties to defense contractors.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-03-23-military-mentors_N.htm

[Captain Hilts]

1. Just like Congress does. It should stop. My dad didn't do it. nt

[happy_liberal]

2. They are doing it in state governments as well

The Country is broke, the states are broke but these assholes are taking 250,000 pensions plus $1500 per day consulting plus whatever the defense companies are paying them.

And then these same people will point their finger at the unemployed, the homeless and talk about how they are rich because of their work ethic. Then the same bastards complain about paying taxes....

[Captain Hilts]

3. You retire. Collect retirement. Go back to old job at previous salary. Such a deal!!!

[happy_liberal]

5. I'm sure!

Then to be paid by corporations as well.

It must be financially fulfilling to have no morals or sense of hypocrisy.

But imagine when they discover a homeless poor person trying to double dip on welfare and unemployment...all hell will break loose!!

[Captain Hilts]

6. Even better! Lobby your old co-workers!

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Nothing new here. Major corporations that put on 'hiring freezes' were run in the '90s and early

2000s by retirees brought back as contractors.

[happy_liberal]

7. kick

:kick:

[happy_liberal]

8. another

:kick:

[happy_liberal]

9. another thread

Firm employs large number of Pentagon mentors, paid by tax dollars working for defense contractors
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8091327