Private Military Companies (PMCs), Private Security Companies (PSCs)...perform a variety of tasks in the areas of logistics, security, intelligence, and protection of persons, goods, and transport infrastructures. Such tasks were traditionally and strictly assigned to professional soldiers of the regular armed forces who were bound by law in case of misconduct. This apparent shift raises a number of difficult issues in International Humanitarian Law (IHL)...PMC employees do not meet the restrictive definition of what constitute mercenaries. They are also generally not considered part of the armed forces party to the conflict. Therefore, they do not fall into the category of combatants, but are actually regarded as civilians. Legally, they should not take a direct part in hostilities...PMCs, like most of the states that hire them, insist that their staff only act in defensive and support roles in any armed conflict. [refers to Blackwater (now Academi)]