The military already does this with aviators. I'll be promoted to Major in March and because I'm a UH-60 pilot I make $10,200 a-year more than any other branch major (except doctors). It's justified, and it would be justified for Spec Ops too. I have to do everything any officer in any other branch does (I'm currently the Battalion S4 deployed for OIF 05-06) yet also be an expert at flying a very complex aircraft. I'm also a maintenance test pilot. Aviators catch never-ending shit because we make more money. I just laugh and say you should have studies harder/got better evaluations/done better at Advanced Camp or West point and you could have branched aviation. Have fun crawling in the mud, and I'll catch you at the O'Club later.
One of my best friends is a SEAL. Before that he was a scout sniper in the USMC. He's the tallest guy (6'5") to ever make it through sniper school. And he's a friggin' animal. He can't tell me specifically what he's done while deployed to the middle east, suffice to say he's sent many a Hadji to their virgins. By the way, he completed BUDS at the age of 30. All the way through, no recycles for injuries or other reasons. A man you want in your corner...
A guy I grew up with was just awarded his Green Beret at age 43. He was a Ranger back in the early eighties, got out and went to college, got married and went to work. Joined a National Guard SF unit shortly after 9-11. What with waiting between the different schools (he's a SF medic, which takes a lot longer than other MOS's) it took him about three years to get qualified. He's in Afghanistan right now. Completely gray hair, but he can run you into the ground. He had the second highest PT score in his SFAS class.
im just glad they are on our side!
....i always remember the story of one of the guys who was on the wall of that big prison break in afghanistan. he said the afghans and a few army guys were on the wall pouring fire into the place for hours , everything was called in...and then it stopped...
he said suddenly the atmosphere changed as you hear 2 and 3 round taps as spec ops guys appeared at dusk...they basically went over the wall and started at one end and went to the other. i will never forget how this guy described it..it went from wild fire to this cold brutally efficient controlled fire. i always remember thinking at the time...jezze you would need balls of steel to do that...to drop into a walled enclosure with 100's of nutty taliban and foerign fighters...and to calmly and cool as ice...'fix it'...
the other thing is ebay someone was selling a tshirt i always regret not buying a few years back
it was 3 or 4 of these guys assaulting a room...with the title
you want freedom, we are here to ensure you get it
bugger, i should have bought it....
350 grand per person to train...jeeze sounds like we get the better bargain and whatever they are paid...it aint enough..