PMC

[WestCoastG's]

I recently heard from the history channel that PMC's were making 100 billion a year. Who's is paying them this? ( Please Im young and wish to learn not to be insulted from a know it all)

[Secret Squirrel]

Upon reading some articles at historychannel.com i found out that the PMC's make 100 billion as year. Where do they get all of this revenue from? Iraq or Afghanistan, I dont know? Sure there is huge market in Africa, but from reports I've read reports on companies like Sandline International that will get 30, 40, or even 50 million from a countries goverment to train their armed forces our attack geurrillas, but I have heard of nothing in the Billions! It must be coming from Iraq or Afghanistan but im still not sure. Please Post.

ut-oh. Ok before people rip him a new A lets just get some basics down first. Private Military Contractors are not mercs. Mercs are illegal in warzones in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Secondly, are you using PMCs to refer to Private Military Contractors or Companies ?

[WestCoastG's]

Upon reading some articles at historychannel.com i found out that the PMC's make 100 billion as year. Where do they get all of this revenue from? Iraq or Afghanistan, I dont know? Sure there is huge market in Africa, but from reports I've read reports on companies like Sandline International that will get 30, 40, or even 50 million from a countries goverment to train their armed forces our attack geurrillas, but I have heard of nothing in the Billions! It must be coming from Iraq or Afghanistan but im still not sure. Please Post.

ut-oh. Ok before people rip him a new A lets just get some basics down first. Private Military Contractors are not mercs. Mercs are illegal in warzones in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Secondly, are you using PMCs to refer to Private Military Contractors or Companies ?

Companies

[Tane Angle]

Quick thinking, Secret Squirrel, good. :D Calling PMC folks mercenaries is like calling a black man the n-word, more or less. Very touchy word. Nearly all PMCs are extremely picky about who they work for and doing what; it's poor business sense to do questionable things, because others won't want to hire that company.

The estimates vary, but it is a fairly substantial business. Add some major companies along with some smaller ones together and it starts adding up. The category doesn't just involve PSDs (bodgyguards) or location security. There are companies that have specialize in helicopters, others that have SIGINT gear loaded up in two-engine aircraft, companies that do just K-9 work, companies that remove landmines, companies that rebuild countries (Haliburton/KBR make a lot of their money this way, hence the usual Cheny remarks people make). There are also companies who cook food or drive trucks for the military. Aircraft like the Apache are repaired and maintained by PMCs often times as well.

Then there are companies who specialize in supporting other companies, but never see action. They do things like turn Surburbans into armored cars or install top-notch surveillance equipment.

The aforementioned K-9 companies rent(subcontract) explosive- or drug-sniffing dog teams, or even tracker dog teams, out to other companies. Other companies do EOD work, destroying the IEDs that other companies encounter.

If I'm not mistaken, the oil fire firefighting folks are still considered to be in the PMC category. Also, security for many major corporations is contracted out to some of the major PMCs, even for corporate headquarters in western countries, including the US.

KR/KRE (kidnapping specialists-they're the guys getting the hostages back, not the ones taking the hostages) is also usually considered to fall into the category.

So add all the little niche companies together with the big guys, and there is actually quite a lot in the category, not just bodyguards.

Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[Secret Squirrel]

if you're interested in the various things that are contracted out and the price tag attached, go to http://www.defenselink.mil/search/ and type "contracts" or "contractors" in the search box. Here's a quick example....


AIR FORCE



Fastenal Co., Winona, Minn., is being awarded an $89,210,000 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity with firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee and material contract. This contract is to obtain tools and consumables through various procurement methods, and accountability services. The contractor will improve tools and consumable support for the Air Force Materiel Command maintenance, repair, and overhaul installations through point of use activities and innovations by taking advantage of accurate, real-time inventory information. This service will be provided in Maintenance Organizations at Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah and Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., with options for Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center, Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Ga., to participate in the contract if they desire. At this time, no funds have been obligated. This work will be complete by July 2005. The Air Force can issue delivery orders totaling up to the maximum amount indicated above. Solicitation was accomplished electronically in March 2004, and six firms submitted proposals. Negotiations were completed July 2004. The Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8201-04-D-0022).

http://www.defenselink.mil/contracts/2004/ct20040716.html

[Dennis G]

Companies

If you do research you will find a lot of them. Groups like DynCorp, Vinnell or Sandline international, but I believe that Sandline is no longer in business
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/mercenary.htm

travel.state.gov/iraq_securitycompanies.html

[Flagg]

I recently heard from the history channel that PMC's were making 100 billion a year. Who's is paying them this? ( Please Im young and wish to learn not to be insulted from a know it all)

In my opinion, I would put that $100 billion figure on the very high side of believability.

Current global military spending is approx. $950 billion...which would mean that PMC's account for 10% of global military spending.

Even factoring in the bulk of PMC work(like logistics, infrastructure management, admin support, etc.) I don't think we're yet at that level.

With the exception of the very obvious, large, and expensive spike in Iraq for "sexy" PMC work......for every PMC carrying flash kit, there's likely 10-12 slinging food in the chow hall, or operating a forklift carrying military stores.

But I do think the "boring" PMC work has the potential to absorb a significant portion of total global spending, long-term....perhaps as much as a third of spending in my opinion.

Just as on civi street it's often cheaper to use temps or outsource non-critical business.

[WestCoastG's]

That history channel show(witch i so wisely videotaped) answered all of my questions, you no longer need to post

[cqbrdy]

although the show was a good one, i wish it focused more on the recent events they are facing in todays world.