Private military company

A private military company (PMC) or private military and security company (PMSC) is a private company that provides armed combat and/or security services. PMCs refer to their personnel as "security contractors" or "private military contractors". The services and expertise offered by PMCs are typically similar to those of governmental security, military, or police but most often on a smaller scale. PMCs often provide services to train or supplement official armed forces in service of governments, but they can also be employed by private companies to provide bodyguards for key staff or protection of company premises, especially in hostile territories.