What is the difference between a PMC and a mercenary?

Both private military contractors (PMC) and mercenaries work for money. Mercenaries are individual soldiers who can be hired by whoever pays them while PMCs recruit these people in an organisation. Mercenaries don't have any tie to a company or state and title, they only fight for money.

Is a military contractor a mercenary?

Mercenaries (as commonly defined) are generally individuals serving in foreign combat roles for money, while private military companies are legally formed entities contracted by governments for specific security related services.

Can you legally be a mercenary?

The Geneva Conventions declare that mercenaries are not recognized as legitimate combatants and do not have to be granted the same legal protections as captured service personnel of the armed forces.

What does a PMC do?

PMCs specialize in providing combat and protection forces. Their work ranges from running small-scale training missions to providing combat units composed of up to several hundred highly trained soldiers equipped with powerful weapons platforms, including tanks and attack helicopters.

What is the difference between a private contractor and a mercenary?

Mercenaries are individuals who are hired on an individual basis. So, if I am directly hired by the CIA to protect one of their covert bases, I'd be a mercenary. Contractors are usually hired by a company that is hired by other companies. So, I work for a private contractor, and the CIA hires my employers to deploy me.

HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MERCENARIES AND PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTORS

What is the largest PMC in the world?

And it itself consists of a large number of subsidiaries and divisions. Currently Blackwater (Xe Services LLC, Academi) is the largest organization of its kind in the world. The company has a headquarters located in North Carolina.

Are Blackwater contractors mercenaries?

In the book, Scahill contends that Blackwater exists as a mercenary force, and argues that Blackwater's rise is a consequence of the demobilization of the US military following the Cold War and its overextension in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How much is a PMC paid?

Reliable and detailed statistics are hard to find, mostly because many private military contractors work for the CIA and all aspects of their agreements are confidential. Nevertheless, most contractors earn between $300 and $750 a day, or between $9,000 and $22,500 per month.

Can a civilian join a PMC?

If you're unable to join the military, you can still provide service to the country as a private military contractor. While many positions require military experience, some private military contractor jobs require no experience in the military.

Do mercenaries still exist?

But, that old-world definition of a mercenary — those who will wage war on behalf of someone else in the name of profit — is still unfortunately relevant. These mercenaries are known as private military contractors (PMCs) today.

Are mercenaries rich?

How much does a Mercenary make in USA? The average mercenary salary in the USA is $75,000 per year or $36.06 per hour. Entry level positions start at $50,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $100,000 per year.

Are mercenaries a war crime?

International law prohibits the use of mercenaries in armed conflict and certain peaceful situations.

Which countries use mercenaries?

Since the turn of the century, mercenary activity has played a major role in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria, Ukraine, Syria and Libya.

What is the difference between PMSCs and mercenaries?

PMSCs are private business entities that provide military or security assistance to states, companies, or other organizations. On the other hand, mercenaries are defined in Article 47 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (AP I).

Why are mercenaries banned?

By the 20th century, the market for force was defunct. The mid-century surge in underground private warfare prompted Geneva Protocols I and II in 1977 that banned mercenaries. The primary objection is that they were warriors without a state, fighting for money rather than national ideology.

What rights do mercenaries have?

According to the Geneva Convention Protocol 1, mercenaries are defined as “unlawful combatants” and do not, therefore, have the right to be considered combatants or to be taken as prisoners of war.

How do PMCs make money?

PMCs supply support services and personnel whose jobs range from aircraft repair to medical and humanitarian aid. They also provide security guards who have parlayed their military training into a PMC army type of job paying three to five times their Army pay.

Is it hard to be a PMC?

While becoming a PMC sounds glamorous and fun, the job can be physically demanding and risky. A large majority of PMCs work in war-torn and politically unstable areas. Even though they do not regularly work in combat arenas, they often are tasked with protecting VIPs and world leaders.

How do I get hired by a PMC?

How much do Blackwater mercenaries get paid?

Average Blackwater Security hourly pay ranges from approximately $15.75 per hour for Security Officer to $17.49 per hour for Patrol Officer.

Are PMCs civilians?

Nonetheless, this case law does not seem to apply to PMC employees, because according to the U.S. government, they are not civilian employees but civilian contractors. PMC employees are neither the employees of the U.S. Army nor the employees of the federal government, so they are not under their responsibility.

How much do private mercenaries make?

Some mercenaries make $500 to $1,500 per day. Interrogators are rumored to make up to $14,000 per week. The salary ranges from $89,000 to $250,000 per year. Employer, experience, expertise, specialty, location, and danger potential ultimately determine the paycheck.

Does the US use mercenaries?

Many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, are not signatories to the 1989 United Nations Mercenary Convention banning the use of mercenaries.

Who were the 4 contractors killed in Iraq?

The ambush

The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona, and Mike Teague, were killed and dragged from their vehicles. Their bodies were beaten and burned, with their charred corpses then dragged through the city streets before being hanged over a bridge crossing the Euphrates River.

What is Blackwater now called?

Blackwater was an American private military company founded on December 26, 1996, by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince. It was renamed Xe Services in 2009, and was again renamed Academi in 2011 after it was acquired by a group of private investors.