what is a pmc

A PMC, or private military company, is a registered business that offers specialized services related to war and conflict, including combat operations, strategic planning, intelligence collection, operational and logistical support, training, procurement, and maintenance. They are primarily motivated by profit rather than political reasons and can range from small consulting firms to huge transnational corporations. PMC employees are not generally subject to service discipline or trained to conduct operations in the same way as regular military personnel. PMCs can be held criminally responsible for their actions, but they often operate in murky legal waters and are difficult for states to control. Attempts to regulate PMCs at the international level have failed so far.