Originally posted by Broadsword2004
The U.S. hires these companies cuz it lets the U.S. gov't do military stuff that it can't do technically with the U.S. military (illegal stuff); hiring a private contractor provides a loophole.

This can be one reason to hire a PMC and the US is not alone in using them for this purpose. Its not even so much thats its illegal more so for the fact that it wouldnt look good for the country doing it.

If a country really wants something illegal done they are going to send their best SF team for the job and nobody will be able to prove anything.

Many smaller countries use them simply because they are the best for the money they can spend. They have enjoyed wide use by nations in Africa. Many companies use PMCs for security for their investments and workers.

I don't think their is any "corp" owned and controlled privately in the world is their? If their was then we'd be in trouble. Thanks for the list, quite useful!

And what do you mean by "Fire Teams"?

er well you know, there are fire teams in the military this is how the squads are divided up. Each fire team is usually led by a Sergeant. His men will have specific military occupational services, (MOS) and the fire team usually has one fire team leader, rifleman, automatic rifleman and a grenadier. It consists of four men. They must cover eachother in the combat zone or a fire team won't work. Basically a fire team can be called fire team bravo or alpha and stuff like charlie, delta etc. The squad is led by a squad leader who's rank is usually a Staff Sergeant or higher.

Ok. Thanks for clearing that up. So a Squad has Fire Teams in it, is that what your saying?

yes exactly, each squad has fire teams. lets say this:

Squad Leader at top
Fire Team Leader (Alpha)
Rifleman
Grenadier
Automatic Rifleman
Fire Team Leader (Bravo)
Rifleman
Grenadier
Automatic Rifleman
______________________
That is basicaly what a squad could consist of.

Ok, thanks again for clearing that up....

Originally posted by optimus fett

but how many soldiers would you need to make it an official army?

50,000 or more men is considered an army, using the US military force structure.

[edit on 3-12-2004 by Aviator]

[edit on 3-12-2004 by Aviator]

Why would anyone want to make an official army, it'd have no country!

Originally posted by Nexus
I don't think their is any "corp" owned and controlled privately in the world is their? If their was then we'd be in trouble. Thanks for the list, quite useful!

What those absolute monarchys are then, Africa has good history record for private armys that are run by some self proclaimed monarch, ex military general or other political person. And those same persons usually have limitles access to goverment accounts. So i think theres many private corp size armys, and i would say in Africa thats the thing they do militias go beyond their home country borders recruit people and cause havoc.

Learn somehting new every day!

If you as a person tried to start a militia, you would be in trouble terror watch list at the very least, however if you structure your private army as a security provider or "consultants" or as corporate security it is easilly done minus armored combat vehicles. Those are kinda interesting you can buy them but you are kinda not supposed to arm them, aka it is legally possible to own a 20mm autocannon like a bradley has as well as an m-2 .50 caliber machine gun, but remounting the cannon and machine gun is dubious I know people and corporations do it occasionally but it is in a gray area.

As long as the government knew you were their to help not destroy them they would keep an eye on you, but not shut you down...