‘A post-retirement sweetener for military brass’? Pentagon defends mentor program amid fresh scrutiny
- The Pentagon’s $90 an hour payments to retired generals for mentorship draws fresh scrutiny.
- Congress reformed the mentor program after a USA TODAY investigation unearthed conflicts.
- Mentors who serve in the program say it offers invaluable perspective for current commanders.
WASHINGTON – A lucrative Pentagon contracting program in which retired officers serve as “senior mentors” is under fresh scrutiny, despite reforms that required retired generals and admirals to disclose possible conflicts of interest.
The Pentagon employs about 80 retired generals and admirals, at around $90 an hour, to advise current commanders involved war games and other military activities. USA TODAY reviewed the financial disclosure forms of 77 senior mentors and found only few working for defense contractors – a problem that had plagued the program when it was loosely regulated and conflicts of interest abounded.