Sounds similar to the UK, get a degree go in as a lieutenant. But I doubt that's the level they're struggling to recruit for hence my point about setting the 'grunts' up for life from day 1 rather than just treating them a 'disposable resources'.
I know someone who was a Colonel in the SAS, went to the middle east & made a packet as a consultant on security etc. As you suggested it's very much a two tier system.
