SAS soldiers on $4.57 an hour to hunt Osama

Family members of the Special Air Service have spoken of their distress over the poor pay of New Zealand's most elite soldiers.

They have broken a code of silence to question whether the country is taking for granted the small group of men who are sent to some of the world's most dangerous countries.

SAS troopers have spent the past few years searching Afghanistan's mountainous border with Pakistan for signs of al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden.

Yet most earn only $40,000 to $50,000-$20,000 less than special tactics troops at home. Based on the army's contract with a soldier to be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, their base rate could be as low as $4.57 an hour.

If the soldiers went to work privately - as many are - they could earn $1500 a day in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Defence headquarters has confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that the SAS met new defence force chief Major General Jerry Mateparae this month. A spokeswoman said the SAS troopers were told they would not receive a pay rise this year - but neither would other Defence Force staff.

A family member, who had discussed the issue with other families, said: "They are proud of what they do, and they are proud of the Army. They enjoy going to work every day and they love their jobs.

"But it's not about them - it's about the families. It's about the families feeling the boys are underpaid and undervalued.

"We're proud of what these boys do. They are the best and it feels like a slap in the face they are not remunerated. They do such a good job and they are being ripped off."

It is rare for anyone associated with the secretive force of elite soldiers to come forward. Government policy is to keep a code of silence over the activities of the soldiers.

Were it not for a slip by the United States, the public would never have known the SAS was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation from President George W. Bush for service in Afghanistan between October 2001 and March 2002.

The family member said there were tense and difficult times for those left at home when the soldiers were posted abroad.

"We don't know what they do - and they don't tell us - but we worry. We know they are going away and there is a high likelihood it is somewhere dangerous. We worry about them all the time."

In speaking with the Herald on Sunday, the family member would comment only about families' feelings on the pay issue and refused to discuss any other matter. The issue had been recently discussed among the soldiers' families, and had caused questions to be asked of the soldiers' devotion to duty.

"They are loyal to the New Zealand Army and they don't have to be. They know there's an easier option. We [the families] complain but wouldn't ever hear them complain.

"Money isn't important until you're taken for granted. They know they can get a lot more in Iraq. I've encouraged my [family member] to look at other options because of the money. If they're going to be in danger anyway, they may as well earn decent money for it."

The family member said the low pay made little economic sense, given the millions it cost to train each elite soldier. It was low pay that led to many of the soldiers leaving the SAS in search of better pay elsewhere - a loss of the investment in training.

The families were not looking for huge pay rises - they compared their pay with the base rate of $72,000 earned by the police Special Tactics Group, which occasionally trains with the SAS.

The family member said questions about pay rarely occurred to the soldiers. Many joined the army as teenagers and were trained exhaustively to accept everything the Defence Force threw at them.

It was only when they settled into relationships that the need for cash became obvious. Most of the soldiers in relationships were not the main earners, and relied on their partners to pay the bills. When it came time to start a family, most soldiers were faced with the prospect of increased expenses and a low income.

"They are extremely professional. They do everything they are asked and do it to the highest of standards. They are the elite. That's one of the reasons they would never complain about their salaries. It's not the done thing if you're a soldier. If a soldier goes on strike it's considered treason."

A statement from the Defence Force said staff received housing assistance, free clothing, funding of higher level education and a superannuation scheme. The entire package was worth $10,000 to $15,000. SAS soldiers also got a range of hazardous and arduous duties allowances to compensate for environmental or combat conditions.

"The New Zealand Defence Force does not benchmark against private security contractors and is unable to match the wages these organisations can offer. Often high wages attract high risk in the international security sector."

The statement said the SAS won a premium for its skills in a 2004 review. The Herald on Sunday understands the premium is about 15 per cent.