Being a profession as old as mankind itself, the mere word "mercenary" often triggers images of danger, toughness, adventure, deadly skills, sex and money in a life as exotic and unreal as some classic action movie. Often said to no longer exist, rendered obsolete by the multi-million dollar private military companies that reshaped private warfare since 2001, mercenaries in the classic way continued their existence and work without any real changes, except for a rise in both overall demand and sorts of opportunities to work since the 80s and 90s, when their existence was proved on photos in the famous publications like "Soldier of Fortune", "Gung Ho" and some of the best of the trade took the time and effort to even write manuals on how to get into that dangerous, demanding and often outright crazy occupation. Seasoned and experienced mercs like Paul Balor in his "Manual of the Mercenary soldier" or Frank J. Camper, running his "Mercenary School" and publishing several books including the original "Mercenary Operations Manual" in 1986 and "Live to spend it" opened that hidden world, together with an opportunity to become a part of it, to anybody dedicated enough to pay the price in sweat, blood, hunger and sleep deprivation. Yet, the changes of our world and its wars together with all the naysayers in the big www claiming the old-school mercenary type to be long vanished, made an update necessary. Here it is.No matter if you're eager to start a full-time career as a hired gun, want more information about this trade to decide if it's for you or you're only curious, you'll get your answers.Or, maybe, you simply want to acquire the skills and know-how of a professional mercenary to improve your chances of protecting those you care about in a world of wars lacking frontlines; wars that don't end on borders in lands far away but instead are fought by enemy forces that might carry out their next attack in a church, a shopping mall or cinema in your hometown!This books goal is to make sure that you are prepared for participating in any modern war as an independent, single operator - increasing to the maximum your chances to "live to spend it".

The mercenary has been one of the constants of military history since ancient times. From Xenophon's Anabasis to today's soldiers of fortune in Africa and the Middle East these warriors for hire have wrought havoc throughout history. This book looks at the evolution of the mercenary from ancient times to the present day. All aspects of the life of the soldier of fortune are detailed from the definition and legalities of the mercenary to their impact on the way wars are waged. Included are high profile cases such as the Truceless War between Carthage and her mercenaries, the great mercenary captain Hawkwood, and the death and mutilation of four mercenaries in Iraq. The book also details the different attitudes towards mercenaries, their equipment and their tactics, training or lack thereof and the deficiencies affecting the mercenaries in their ability to execute their missions. Including quotes and first-hand accounts from mercenaries from all ages, this volume casts new light onto the dark world of the mercenary, captures the transformation of the mercenary has gone through and examines the future of mercenaries in the 21st century.

Since before the time of Alexander the Great trained soldiers have sold their expertise on battlefield around the World, fighting and dying in other people’s wars for money, glory or the lust for violence and combat. In this book Harry McCallion explores the development of modern mercenary forces from the British SAS led deniable operation in Yemen in late 1960’s, during which the Israelis were persuaded to arm the SAS led Yemeni tribesmen, through the bush wars in Africa, Britain’s ill fated intervention in the war in Afghanistan right up to today’s War in Ukraine. Many of the modern day British mercenaries were known to the author personally. including such notably figures as the legendary SAS Fijian warriors ‘Tak ‘ Takevesia who, although in his early sixties shot his way out of an ambush in Bagdad and Fred ‘Big Fred’ Mrafano who devoted himself to the cause of the people of Serra Leone. SAS veteran .Bill Scully who received the Queen's Gallantry Medal single-handedly protected 1,300 civilians from rebel troops during the uprising in May 199 7after the Sierra Leone coup and American Vietnam veteran Major ‘Mac’ Mackenzie, who although badly wounded in Vietnam, rose from trooper to command a Rhodesian SAS squadron and was one of the units most highly decorated soldiers. Also included are more notorious figures like Costas Georgiou also known by his alias Colonel Callan who served in the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment but was dishonorably discharged and sentenced to five years in prison for a post office robbery, later he proclaimed himself a ‘Colonel’ and led a group of psychopathic mercenaries in the Angolan War of Independence, before being captured and executed by Angolan forces. The book explores the roles of modern day mercenaries, who’s use has expanded precisely because they are mercenaries, fighting for money and not love of country, their deaths are not seen as a patriotic sacrifice, often they go unreported and in turn helps to conceal the true tragic human cost of waging a war. As one former private military contractor recently stated to Australian TV “If you want to conquer in the 21st century you use mercenaries, special forces, things to keep war secret and nobody’s better at secret wars than mercenaries.”

This textbook offers an accessible introduction to counterinsurgency operations, a key aspect of modern warfare. Featuring essays by some of the world’s leading experts on unconventional conflict, both scholars and practitioners, the book discusses how modern regular armed forces react, and should react, to irregular warfare. The volume is divided into three main sections: Doctrinal Origins: analysing the intellectual and historical roots of modern Western theory and practice Operational Aspects: examining the specific role of various military services in counterinsurgency, but also special forces, intelligence, and local security forces Challenges: looking at wider issues, such as governance, culture, ethics, civil-military cooperation, information operations, and time. Understanding Counterinsurgency is the first comprehensive textbook on counterinsurgency, and will be essential reading for all students of small wars, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, strategic studies and security studies, both in graduate and undergraduate courses as well as in professional military schools.

This book was published toward the tail end of the heyday of mercenary work in Central-America and Africa, more specifically in countries like the Congo, Angola, and Rhodesia. While some of the more timeframe specific info is very outdated, the TTPs outlined within the book are as effective today, as they were then - perhaps even more so!From the Introduction: "This manual is not the bible, nor the beginning or the end of combat manuals. It deals with the job of operating a mercenary unit both on your own and with regular army forces on the continent of Africa... This manual is solely a simple text to assist the freelancer to stay alive and to give him the edge, as the bush in Africa forgives few when it comes to dancing with the devil.Contents: IntroductionChapter 1 - Commando Rules for BattleChapter 2 - Commando External RaidsChapter 3 - Profile of the Terrorist AimChapter 4 - Principles of COIN WarfareChapter 5 - Commando Base Camp Fighting PositionsChapter 6 - Observation PointsChapter 7 - Operational MethodsChapter 8 - Pseudo-Terrorist GangsChapter 9 - Tracking and CountertrackingChapter 10 - Basic Ground/Air Emergency SignalsChapter 11 - Medical AidChapter 12 - Employment PossibilitiesChapter 13 - International Law and the MercenaryChapter 14 - African Travel GuideChapter 15 - A Cynical Look at the TradeAfterwordAppendix A - Temperature and Rainfall ChartAppendix B - African ConflictsAppendix C - Currency Tabl