Private Military Contractors

[AlphaWolf]

So I just finished reading "Civilian Warriors" by Erik Prince, which is the story of Blackwater.  (Absolutely fascinating read.  Recommend to anyone with an interest in military history or Iraq in specific) You know, the private military contracting company famed for it's so-called "cowboy" tactics in Iraq while on DSS contract.  And I got to thinking.  Are there PMCs in Halo?  We haven't seen any yet, but it'd be a logical conclusion to say that there were.  Currently, roughly one contractor is deployed for each soldier deployed to a warzone.  And Prince estimates that the number will only increase as time goes on.

To put things in perspective, when the US military pulled out of Iraq and the Department of State still had 17,000 (I think I quoted that right) people left in Iraq--only 1750 of those people were not contractors.  The rest were.


I would say it's a good bet there are, and that the role of PMCs has only expanded.  Currently, the Geneva Convention outlaws "mercenarism", meaning that PMCs cannot be hired in an offensive role, only a defensive or supporting role.  I would think that as time progresses and the UNSC sees it's numbers deplete, that they would move their combat-trained forces to the frontlines, and PMCs would begin to take over the less dangerous roles--logistics duties, guarding military installations, etc.  Just like it is now.  But what do y'all think?

[MrKill]

It's possible some small ones exists but nothing major like it is today. We all know the UNSC has taken over civilian duties like government and what not, so instead of hiring PMCs they're just doing something different. I look at it pretty simplistic; instead of hiring those PMCs, they'd just draft the eligible population into the military of certain planets closer to the front line. We know canonically the draft is taking place and there are no mentions of any PMC on the wikis.

I think it's much more logical to assume the UNSC emergency government is slapping draft notices on planets that are on the front lines to get troops faster, cheaper and long-term - effectively absorbing those PMCs if they were present directly into the military. Plus, it also allows them flexibility where they deploy those troops with a standard wage then paying them more to hold one spot.

That's just my view on it.

[AlphaWolf]

PMCs are cheaper, though. A soldier has to be trained, fed, clothed, housed, and shipped. For a PMC, much of it is provided by the contractor or contracting agency.

Anyways, I see. Welp, alternate timeline it is.