Observatory Report : A new development within Socio-Economics - the rewards of failure and indulgence at the very heart of economic and now millitary institutions.
This was also witnessed in the the sports world with former England managers 5 million payoff for failure at the World Cup and Wall Street execs bailout packages after failed policies endangered the very fabric of the Western and Global Economies
A handful of defence chiefs are enjoying huge salary and pension packages that have increased by tens of thousands in the past year and are now worth at least £18m.
The revelations prompted anger yesterday among grieving relatives of soldiers who have died as a result of shortages in vital equipment, with campaigners accusing the Defence Management Board of having a self-serving attitude that cannot be afforded in today's financial climate.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, received a £15,000 pay rise this year, taking his salary from £210,000 to £225,000. As well as enjoying the use of an official service residence at a cost to the taxpayer of £37,000, he also has a pension fund worth more than £2.4m, which will pay him a pension of £120,000 a year when he finally retires. On top of that, Sir Jock will get a lump sum payment of £350,000.
Sarah Chapman, whose brother Flight Sergeant Bob O'Connor was one of 10 servicemen killed when their RAF Hercules aircraft, which had not been fitted with explosive-suppressant foam, was shot down over Iraq in 2005, said yesterday:
"They cannot justify the amounts they are getting paid. It's just not necessary. I'm absolutely speechless; I cannot believe it. The acceptance of these perks and salaries goes to highlight the self-serving attitude these high-ranking officers have."
Reg Keys, whose son Thomas was one of six military police killed by a mob in Iraq, said:
"My son died for the want of a distress flare, which costs a couple of quid. Yet they can find all this money for officers."
His son died after being unable to summon help from nearby soldiers in 2003 because the men had no satellite phone.
The latest revelations of the rewards given to senior officers come against a backdrop of chronic staff and equipment shortages across the military that have come to light in recent years.
Last week The Independent on Sunday revealed how senior ranks benefit from nearly £100m a year spent on special allowances.
The vast majority, £87m, is spent on paying for private school fees for their children.
In the RAF alone, £1m was spent on chauffeurs, £3.4m on waiters and waitresses in officers' messes and a further £800,000 on bar staff. Chefs dedicated to serving senior officers cost another £2.8m a year.
This brings the known total spent on special privileges to at least £95m –
Last night the MoD said: "The members of the Defence Board bring to the table extensive defence and military experience and expertise; crucial to their role in directing the MoD and the armed forces, at a time when we are engaged in two complex operations vital to national security...
Its value should be judged by the achievements of our armed forces in helping to bring stability to Iraq and Afghanistan."
