ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Private military company

A private military company is like hiring someone to do a specific job for you, but instead of fixing a broken toy, they carry guns and protect things.

Imagine you have a big toy collection and you want someone to protect it from other kids who might take your prized possessions. You hire some big and strong grown-ups to stand guard and protect your toys.

Companies and even governments sometimes hire private military companies to do similar things for them. These companies are made up of people who are trained in different types of military skills such as combat, security, intelligence, and logistics.

Their job is to protect things like businesses, government officials, infrastructure, and even armies in some cases. They may also be hired to provide other services such as training, transportation, and intelligence gathering.

So just like you hired someone to protect your toys, others may hire a private military company to protect their important things.