The chief of U.S. Special Operations Command, Adm. William McRaven, defended the use of security contractors during Senate testimony yesterday, and said the military has contained an earlier trend of elite soldiers departing for more lucrative jobs in the private sector.
“The contractors play a very valuable role,” McRaven told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “No one should diminish the role they play.”
McRaven’s remarks came after questioning from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who argued the military should slash its reliance on the private contractors and reinvest the money in those serving in uniform to encourage them to stay. Manchin said some former soldiers have told him they would have opted against joining the security firms if the Pentagon offered better salaries.
The Pentagon and State Department contract private security companies to serve as guards, conduct training and protect convoys. McRaven said those services allow the military to utilize its special operations soldiers for more important missions.
“There is an appropriate balance between uniforms and contractors and contractors do a good service,” he said.
McRaven acknowledged that in the time period following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there were problems in the special operations community with soldiers defecting to the private sector. McRaven noted that many of them later regretted their decision and would have preferred to remain in the service.
McRaven said the Pentagon contained the problem through better pay and bonuses, and said the military offers superior benefits.
“A lot of these young folks really didn’t just do the basic calculation early on,” he said.