It's official: Gen. Stanley McChrystal has been pushed out as the
commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The move follows a
controversial interview he gave to Rolling Stone in which he chides
several higher-ups in the administration including the president, vice
president and members of the national security team, not to mention
foreign dignitaries.
In announcing the decision, President Obama
praised McChrystal's service to the country until this point, but said
that ultimately, "the conduct represented in the recently published
article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding
general."
Here are a few possibilities:
Senior Mentorhe military sometimes brings back retired officers to serve as advisers
to current members of the armed forces. According to Noonan, their job
is to consult on war games, current operations and general strategy.
This position may be a particularly good fit for McChrystal who,
despite his recent blunders, is known for being a savvy strategist. And
if he needs an added incentive, this job pays extraordinarily well. USA
Today notes that mentors typically earn between $200-$350 an hour, plus
excellent benefits. This pay is commensurate with experience, which
McChrystal has in spades.
Corporate Board
Military generals and politicians often
end up serving on a corporate board where they receive what Noonan
calls a "fairly good remuneration." That's probably an understatement.
Corporate board members often make six-figure salaries. In particular,
McChrystal might end up serving on the board of a defense contractor
given his previous experience.
Academia and Philanthropy
As
with corporate boards, former generals are considered a valuable
resource in academia and philanthropy because of their proven
leadership credentials. Noonan speculates that McChrystal could find
work down the road as the president of a university or foundation. He
notes that the McCormick Tribune Foundation in Chicago might be one
possibility since they have a history of hiring retired generals.
Write a Book
As
with any public figure, McChrystal does have the option to write a book
about his experiences, which would probably earn him a pretty penny.
But this does come with a caveat. According to Noonan, McChrystal
worked in a "highly classified role," which means he would be heavily
restricted in what information he could divulge (although, to be fair,
that didn't stop him from speaking his mind to Rolling Stone). The
other restriction that Noonan notes is that the military typically
fosters a culture where people are "shunned" for speaking out too much.
Blackwater
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Earlier
this month, Blackwater, an infamous private contracting company hired
by the military, went on sale. No word yet on the asking price, but it
will certainly be in the tens of millions. Maybe the general should buy
it. If he doesn't have the money now, he can work one of the other jobs
on the list until he does.
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