[petcat]

Sure. The US military has done this for decades to prevent brain-drain around emerging technologies to the private sector.

[ceejayoz]

They could make them plain old Lieutenants for that, yes?

[petcat]

Distinction without a difference. They're advisors.

[ceejayoz]

Then why do they need the elevated rank?

[mothballed]

I have a dumb question but is it possible to arrange exec-tier or at last officer-tier pay for something like a private?

[ceejayoz]

No level of normal military pay is gonna be meaningful to these folks, at any rank.