What is the difference between PMC and 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.

Is mercenary the same as private military?

Mercenaries are essentially individual soldiers who can be hired by whoever pays them. PMCs, on the other hand, are recruited into an organization (the private military company) that serves as the intermediary between the professional soldiers they employ and the governments that seek their services.

What is a PMC in the military?

Private military companies (PMCs) are businesses that offer specialised services related to war and conflict, including combat operations, strategic planning, intelligence collection, operational and logistical support, training, procurement and maintenance.

Is it legal to be a mercenary in the US?

One of the six requirements is that the person must be motivated by a “desire for private gain.” The United States' position, as detailed in the U.S. Defense Department Law of War Manual, is that being a mercenary is not a crime under international law.

HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MERCENARIES AND PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTORS

Are mercenaries a war crime?

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

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.

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.

Do mercenaries get paid well?

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.

Can a civilian become a PMC?

Whether or not you've been in the military, you follow the same method for joining a private military contractor company. Many contractors recruit prior military and nonmilitary professionals. In that case, a recruiter helps you determine the best position based on your interest and background.

What is the biggest PMC?

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.

Is it illegal to fight as a mercenary?

Mercenaries have been banned by several treaties like the UN Mercenary Convention, which prohibits states from recruiting, using, financing and training mercenaries and requires them to criminalize mercenarism domestically.

Are Blackwater 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.

What are military mercenaries called?

A mercenary, sometimes also known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual that joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military.

Do military contractors see combat?

Private military contractors are hired for protection, not combat missions. The companies normally look for veterans or people with law enforcement experience, and they recruit all around the globe. Rene de Nevers, an international affairs professor at Syracuse, says the work can be lucrative.

Can PMCs own tanks?

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.

Can a civilian become a mercenary?

Mercenaries are usually former military personnel who take on war combat jobs. Most western nations, including the US, have laws that prevent their citizens from acting as mercenaries.

Do mercenaries use guns?

Due to the rifle's low cost, ease of use, and durability, it continues to be one of the most used assault rifles by mercenaries, rebels, and militaries around the world. Today, the AK sees production in a number of countries and is almost considered a must for merc-like work to be able to operate the weapon.

What is a blackwater mercenary?

Government Contracts

During the war in Iraq, Blackwater was one of several private security companies use to guard officials, security guards, and military installations, train the Iraqi army and police forces, and provide other support for armed forces.

How do you become a PMC soldier?

To become a private military contractor, the first thing you'll do is to undergo vetting after which you'll be trained to prepare to work with military personnel and in a support position. You'll also have to undergo drug screening, security clearance, and comprehensive background checks.

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 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.

What is Blackwater called now?

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.

Why does the US use PMCs?

PMCs often provide services to train or supplement official armed forces in service of governments, but they can also be employed by private companies to provide bodyguards for key staff or protection of company premises, especially in hostile territories.

How long is mercenary training?

It takes approximately 50 hours (2 training cycles) to get a mercenary from Level 1 to Level 30.