How to become a mercenary: the necessary personal qualities, training, private military companies

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

According to historians, the first armies appeared during the times of Carthage and Ancient Rome. The militias and slave militia were replaced by professional mercenary soldiers. Those received a salary for their work, and to maintain discipline, the leadership resorted to physical coercion. In our days, the finest hour has come for mercenary armies. It has become a business both for the creators of such formations and for the military themselves. How do you become a mercenary? What personal qualities and skills should the applicant have? This article will help answer these questions.

What are the advantages of private armies?

As experts say, mercenaries and private military companies (PMCs) can successfully earn money regardless of settlement agreements. For example, if the movement of regular armies of other states is limited on the territory of a country, then the PMC operates freely. A private army, having concluded a contract, goes to a foreign country and performs a wide range of tasks there. It can be security work, but most often professionalmercenaries are fighting for one of the warring parties. They can also be used to overthrow the political regime. If there was money, there would always be highly professional military men.

Various PMCs are suitable for those who, having been in "hot spots" and returning to the "citizen", could not adapt to civilian life. The questions of how to become a mercenary and what is required for this are also of interest to those who simply want to earn money. This category of people is absolutely indifferent for whom to fight.

About private military companies

According to experts, many PMCs work closely with the intelligence services of the United States and Great Britain, as well as other Western countries. With the help of mercenary armies, weapons are purchased and military specialists are trained. The basis of the military-industrial complex of the United States is precisely PMCs: mercenaries serve the army, participate in the development of new weapons and help government agencies.

The very first such company Vinnell Corporation was established in America in 1931. During World War II, she defended the interests of the US Army. It also operated in Africa and the Middle East. The company was officially listed as a construction company. However, in addition to the construction of military facilities, employees were involved in military operations and reconnaissance raids. Vinnell Corporation trained National Guard soldiers for Saudi Arabia, opposed the rebels in Mecca. Today, the tasks performed by PMCs are clearly divided. For example, oil facilities are guarded by Erinys Irag Limited andXE Services, Kroll PMC fighters escort convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan. Caci supplies qualified military interpreters and KBR provides troops.

In Russia, PMCs appeared later. After the collapse of the USSR, many military specialists were reduced. Some were not satisfied with the low salary and general disorder. Mercenaries acquired an industrial scale in the 1990s. Today, several PMCs operate in Russia, offering very specific services to customers. The most famous Russian private armies are Wagner PMC, Tiger Rent Security, E. N. O. T. CORP, PMC IDA, Cossacks, Moran Security Group. "Soldiers of Fortune" are hired to guard facilities, escort cargo, train security forces, and also to fight pirates.

How do they become PMC mercenaries? About the requirements for the applicant

Is it possible to become a mercenary for a random unemployed citizen or a pensioner who decides to improve his financial situation? According to experts, of course, this category does not shine in PMCs. For this work, not to mention the moral ones, special physical and psychological qualities are required. A potential PMC employee must meet the following requirements:

• Be no older than 45. Young people from 25 years old are recruited into PMCs.
• Applicant must be at least 175 cm tall and in good physical shape.
• If a young person has bad habits (addiction to alcohol, drugs, drugs, etc.), he will be denied admission.

Who wants to work inPMCs should be prepared that they can be sent to any climatic region.

On the moral side

Very often, the question of how to become mercenaries is asked by previously convicted citizens. According to experts, this category definitely does not become employees of PMCs. Do not be a mercenary and a person with an already extinguished conviction. They will also refuse admission to the military if he is dismissed from the armed forces under a defamatory article.

Strict rules are due to the fact that such people, as psychologists are convinced, tend to disobey or violate discipline. If a young man has an impeccably clean reputation, but he is related to terrorists, then he will not be accepted either.

About psychological criteria

The best mercenary is the one with a balanced psyche and resistance to stress. In addition, the "soldier of fortune" must be attentive, responsible and conscientious. Since not only his life, but also the success of the whole business will depend on how skillfully he copes with his duties. Nobody will let him work carelessly. Since in PMCs all adults and already psychologically formed people, they will not re-educate a negligent fighter.

A private mercenary will have to work in very harsh conditions with physical and psychological stress. Therefore, if there are any diseases in which "strain" is contraindicated, then it is better not to go to PMCs. In addition to high endurance, the "soldier of fortune" must be able to adapt and quickly restore their strength.

Forwho is this job?

According to experts, private military companies mainly hire officers with extensive combat experience. The presence of military awards is welcome. The leaders of military operations are also out of turn.

This job is for well-trained contract servicemen, graduates of military educational institutions, reserve security officers, combat veterans and candidates with any unique military speci alties. Given the specifics of work in PMCs, preference is given to unmarried applicants.

Training

Of course, having arrived at the PMC, the newcomer already has a certain military speci alty and level of training. However, in the modern world, one speci alty is not enough. For this reason, according to experts, even experienced military men are subject to retraining at the expense of a private company. Employees are trained in both classical and narrowly focused disciplines, taking into account the characteristics of the country in which they will have to work. "Soldier of Fortune" introduces modern technology, information systems, etc.

Instructors are trained to shoot various types of weapons, perform combat missions using vehicles (driving at night, avoiding collisions, driving in a serpentine, transfer control, emergency brakes and turns, prevent accidents, shoot on the move and etc.). In addition, mercenaries are taught how to destroy ambushes, escort and guard various cargoes, and work in extreme conditions.

Unlike foreignprivate military companies, in Russian personnel are selected more carefully. According to experts, foreign PMCs are multinational, while only citizens of the Russian Federation can get into Russian ones. The armies also differ in the professional level of the fighters. Employees of foreign PMCs are trained by Western instructors. It is not uncommon for local residents to become mercenaries. There is no language barrier in communication between such “soldiers of fortune”, they know the area and customs well, and most importantly, they are not very demanding on payment.

In closing

Because a private military company is a serious commercial structure, its management requires employees to comply with certain rules. For example, a "soldier of fortune" signs documents on non-disclosure of various secrets and information about the employer. Also in the contract there is a clause that states that the mercenary must obey his leadership. If the conditions are violated by the employee, then the employer unilaterally terminates the contract ahead of schedule. There will be nothing good for the “soldier of fortune”: he will not receive the promised money, and he will have to return home from the mission on his own.