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>> The seven each received a punitive letter of reprimand and were docked half pay for two months...

I wonder how this dock in pay compares to the amount they were paid as consultants by EA.

Less than they paid in taxes (with allowances, etc., they make $3-8k/mo). The letter of reprimand is the bigger deal, if it prevents promotion or assignments in the future, and potentially makes it so they can't get to 20 years and retirement.

One military analyst I was listening to on the news said that this would effectively end their careers.

I doubt they were paid anything by EA. The article doesn't mention that they were and it would be a much more serious charge if they divulged classified material for money. It's more likely that they just wanted to show off their gear and get it into a video game.

The dock in pay would be around $3000 total; half-pay for two months. This is a pretty typical punishment for enlisted personnel who divulge or mishandle non-critical classified material and probably won't end their careers. It won't help but probably won't hurt much, either.

"CBS said the seven worked for two days this spring and summer as paid consultants on the videogame."

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