Some companies work to keep people safe.
They help guard ships on the sea. They also help guard people in far places. These jobs can be very hard. They work in many ways to help. Do you think it is a big job?
Some companies work to keep people safe.
They do not work for a government. Instead, they work for money.
These workers do many jobs. They can guard important people. They can also protect buildings.
Some even work on big ships at sea. They help stop pirates.
These groups can also help with planes. They can fix them or fly them. They can even help with medical trips.
Many people use these companies. Some use them in war zones. Others use them to help after a storm.
It is a very big business. Many people work in this field.
A private military company is a business that sells security.
These workers are often called contractors. They do not work for a government. Instead, they work for money.
Many different groups use these companies. Some governments hire them to train their soldiers. Other groups hire them to guard important people. Some companies hire them to protect buildings in dangerous places.
Some contractors even work on big ships at sea. They help stop pirates from attacking.
These businesses have grown very large. In 2003, the industry earned over $100 billion in one year. Many people who used to be in the army now work for these groups. This happened a lot after the Cold War ended.
Some companies even help with planes. They can fly planes for medical trips or move heavy cargo.
Because they work in war zones, there are special rules. The United Nations even made a rule to ban certain types of fighters. Many countries have signed papers to help manage how these companies work.
A private military company is a business that sells security and combat services.
These groups are often called private military and security companies. Their workers are known as security contractors. They offer services that are similar to a government's military or police. However, they usually work on a much smaller scale. Some contractors provide training for official armed forces. Others work as bodyguards for important leaders. Some companies hire them to protect buildings in dangerous lands.
These companies perform many different types of jobs. Some provide help with repairing military planes in East Africa. Others have provided close protection for leaders like Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan. Some even pilot helicopters as part of Plan Colombia. In recent years, they have moved to the sea to fight pirates.
Contractors work on merchant ships near Somalia to keep crews safe. They help stop pirates from taking ships hostage. This work happens in the Gulf of Aden. Some companies even offer air support. They can fly planes for medical trips or move heavy cargo.
Modern private military companies have a long history. They began with a group of ex-SAS veterans in 1965.
David Stirling and John Woodhouse founded WatchGuard International. Their first job was in Yemen to report on royalist forces. The company later worked in Zambia and Sierra Leone. They provided training and security advice there. Stirling also worked to sell weapons to other countries. Other groups like Control Risks Group formed in the 1970s and 1980s. These companies grew even larger after the Cold War ended.
This industry has become very big and expensive. A 2003 study showed the industry earned over $100 billion in one year. In the United States, contractors make up 29% of the intelligence workforce. They also cost about 49% of the personnel budget. Since 1994, the US Defense Department signed 3,601 contracts worth $300 billion. Many people joined these companies after the Cold War. Over 6 million military personnel left Western militaries in the 1990s. This created a large pool of people to hire. Many former special forces members moved to these private groups.
Because these companies work in war zones, there are important rules. Using armed force in war can make a person an unlawful combatant. The Geneva Conventions outline these rules. In 1989, the United Nations started a convention to ban mercenaries. This rule began to work on 20 October 2001. In 2008, leaders created the Montreux Document. This document helps clarify the legal duties of these companies. It helps states manage how they hire such groups. Many countries, including 54 states, have signed this document.
This helps keep the work of private security organized.
A private military company (PMC) is a commercial business that provides armed combat or security services. These organizations are also known as private military and security companies (PMSCs). The personnel working for these firms are called security contractors or private military contractors. Their expertise and services often mirror those of government military, police, or security agencies. However, PMCs typically operate on a much smaller scale than national armies. They may provide training to official armed forces or act as supplements to them.
They are also hired by private corporations to protect key staff or company premises in hostile territories.
These companies perform a wide variety of specialized missions. Some PMCs have focused on military aviation repair in East Africa. Others have provided close protection for political leaders, such as Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Some have even been used to pilot reconnaissance airplanes and helicopters as part of Plan Colombia. In recent years, the scope of their work has expanded into maritime environments. PMCs now operate in the Gulf of Aden to deter pirates from attacking merchant vessels.
Some companies even offer military aviation support, including medical evacuations and heavy-lift cargo transportation.
The modern industry traces its origins back to the mid-1960s. In 1965, a group of former Special Air Service (SAS) veterans founded WatchGuard International. This company was led by David Stirling, the founder of the SAS, and John Woodhouse. Their first assignment involved reporting on royalist forces in Yemen during a ceasefire. The company eventually provided training and security advice in Zambia and Sierra Leone. Stirling also organized the sale of weapons and military personnel for various foreign policy operations.
Other groups, such as Control Risks Group and Defence Systems, emerged in the 1970s and 1980s.
The industry experienced dramatic growth following the end of the Cold War. During the 1990s, over 6 million military personnel left Western militaries. This massive exodus created a large pool of experienced recruits for private firms. Large corporations emerged during this time, such as G4S in the United Kingdom and Vinnell in the United States. Some observers noted that elite units, including the British SAS and US Special Operations Forces, were affected by personnel moving to these lucrative private roles.
The US Defense Department has utilized this sector extensively, signing 3,601 contracts worth $300 billion since 1994.
The economic scale of this industry is immense. A 2003 study found that the industry was earning more than $100 billion annually. In the United States, private contractors represent 29% of the workforce within the Intelligence Community. These contractors also account for the equivalent of 49% of personnel budgets. This reliance on private entities is visible in many sectors, including humanitarian aid. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) sometimes hire contractors to guard facilities in dangerous regions like Sudan or Afghanistan.
However, using contractors can be complex for NGOs regarding costs and neutrality.
Because PMCs operate in conflict zones, they face significant legal challenges. Contractors using armed force in war zones may be labeled unlawful combatants. This concept is outlined in the Geneva Conventions and the 2006 American Military Commissions Act. To address these issues, the United Nations initiated the Mercenary Convention in 1989. This convention, which bans the use of mercenaries, entered into force on 20 October 2001. Additionally, the 2007 amendment to the American Uniform Code of Military Justice allows for the prosecution of contractors during declared wars.
International efforts have also sought to create better oversight for these companies. In 2008, the Montreux Document was proposed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government. This document details the legal obligations of states when hiring private security services. It provides specific recommendations for operational oversight during armed conflicts. As of December 2018, fifty-four states had signed the Montreux Document. These frameworks aim to clarify how private entities interact with international law and state responsibilities.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (5)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.