Bonuses Keep Veterans Reenlisting

Over 1,200 Green Berets and Navy Seal veterans, the most specialized military leaders, have chosen bonuses of $150,000 to reenlist for several more years over retirement. Bonuses have totaled out at $100 million to keep these guys around.

These troops are the best of the best and given this reason there is no doubt as to why the government wants to keep them around. This small group of elite soldiers have the knowledge needed to fight unconventional wars overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have knowledge and special training in the newest technology, multiple languages, and cultural awareness.

Gates said Wednesday the Army must focus more on training foreign militaries and fighting insurgent groups - methods essential to success in the type of irregular warfare U.S. forces now face. Troops with these skills “need to be retained,” Gates told the annual convention of the Association of the U.S. Army.

The Pentagon plans to spend another $43.5 million dollars on commando bonuses to keep these elite soldiers around.

Those agreeing to stay an extra six years receive $150,000; five years is worth $75,000; four years, $50,000; three years, $30,000; two years, $18,000; and one extra year, $8,000.

Since January 2005, 2,326 have been eligible and more than half took bonuses, statistics show.