Why a long military career in cyber feels like a rarity

Send them to some sort of credential-bearing school after or in conjunction with their initial training and put them in some warrant officer pipeline that pays these guys more. Or guarantee them at least E-5 when they report. When you have an all-volunteer force you have to sweeten the pot.

This problem isn't unique to cyber. IT, intel, nuke, other specialized tech fields all face these problems. Before I left TAP class I had an offer making double what I was making in the Navy.

Or slot these all as GS-13 positions.

Why bother when you know you could punch out on Friday after putting up with tons of crap for peanuts and come back in Monday with only your job to focus on, a SOW that limits a lot of the BS someone can put you through, and those peanuts are now some good almonds.

It is due to the competition of hiring outside of the military. Not much we can do.