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The Armed Forces spend R$800 million annually on retired military personnel. The model, defended by the inactive military personnel's extensive experience, faces criticism for its high cost and limited transparency.
If there is one thing that the Armed Forces know how to do well, besides defending the national territory, it is managing a million-dollar budget with strategies that leave many questions in the air.
Behind the closed doors of barracks and offices, a discreet but costly practice has been expanding rapidly: the hiring of retired military personnel for administrative and advisory roles.
This model, which involves figures in the region of R$800 million per year, generates praise for its technical efficiency, but also criticism for its cost and limited transparency.
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What is behind this system that benefits thousands of inactive people?
In Brazil, 12.681 retired military personnel returned to active service in the Armed Forces as Temporary Task Providers (PTTC).
These contracts, created in the 1990s, guarantee employees an additional 30% on their salary and a stay of up to 24 months, extendable for up to ten years.
The practice, which prioritizes captains and colonels, represents 7% of the total number of military personnel in reserve or retired, estimated at 169.793.
How does the PTTC model work?
Inspired by the North American model, the PTTC was introduced with the aim of filling personnel shortages in the areas of teaching, health and advisory services.
Those hired do not go through selection processes, being chosen directly by military leaders.
This freedom of choice, called “high discretion”, generates criticism due to limited transparency.
According to a survey carried out by FSP based on the Access to Information Act, Retired employees receive, on average, R$22.694 per month, a value that can reach R$47 for general officers.
The Army leads the hiring process with 6.190 inactive personnel, followed by the Navy (3.598) and the Air Force (2.893).
Benefits and criticisms of the model
Inactive military personnel argue that the system is necessary for the functioning of the Armed Forces.
The Navy, for example, highlighted in a note that those hired contribute with “vast professional experience and technical-administrative knowledge”.
The Army and Air Force also justified the practice as an efficient solution to fill operational gaps.
On the other hand, critics point to the high cost and lack of selection processes as points of concern.
The 30% salary addition is not registered on the Transparency Portal, making a more detailed analysis of expenses difficult.
Secrecy and controversies
The survey revealed that the Armed Forces did not release detailed information about the actions of these soldiers, claiming a risk to national security.
The Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) validated the confidentiality, but determined that the patents and names of the contractors be disclosed.
Among those hired are important names, such as General Otávio Rêgo Barros, spokesperson for the Bolsonaro government.
He works as a manager-researcher in the Army, with a salary and benefits commensurate with his experience.
Another controversial figure is Admiral Carlos Alfredo Vicente Leitão, hired by the Navy while voluntarily presiding over the Marine Corps Veterans Association.
Leitão was one of the signatories of a coup letter from reserve officers in 2022, which sparked debates about the ethical limits of this practice.
The fiscal impact and reforms of the Lula government
The Lula government initiated a series of reforms to reduce personnel costs in the Armed Forces.
Among the changes is the establishment of a minimum retirement age of 55 and the end of pension payments to family members of expelled military personnel.
However, the hiring of PTTCs was not included in the proposals.
The current model generates debate because Military personnel in reserves maintain differentiated benefits in relation to civilian retirees, such as full salary and a shorter period of service before retirement.
On the other hand, a military career does not offer rights such as night shift pay and union membership, which, according to advocates, justifies the maintenance of some privileges.
The future of the PTTC model
The Armed Forces maintain that hiring retired military personnel is essential to maintaining the functioning of institutions.
The high costs, combined with the lack of transparency, generate discussions about the need for greater control and supervision.
Meanwhile, Brazil continues to spend almost R$1 billion annually on a model that seems to be far from being questioned in the core of strategic decisions. Is this practice really indispensable?
The value of 47.000 reais can only be a joke from the report, if the military earns 30% of the remuneration, even if he earns 30.000 reais in salary, the advantage he would have is the name of the additional, PROLABORE, it would be only 9.000 reais, how did they arrive at the value of 47.000.
I think this idea is great, but it could also be extended to other categories.
Sergeant, corporals, etc.
That: other patents.
I understand that it is feasible to hire or retain retired or reserve military personnel for the exclusive needs of the armed forces, but the excessive salary is also worrying in the sense that it generates high costs for the Union while the population struggles to pay these additional funds. They should adopt other means of hiring with salary limits regardless of their ranks. Single value