What's the difference between a soldier, an assassin, and a mercenary?

GoldenRivet · 06-10-09, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

If "duty" means "follows orders regardless of personal morality (if any)" then I can agree with that part.
The other three are all properties of an individual; they are not magically "instilled" (your word) in someone when they take a certain job.

coming from a military family, i can tell you that most soldiers do have an enlarged sense of patriotism and honor.

duty has multiple definitions i suppose?

Duty to me and many i know does not mean "follows orders without regard to personal morality" - duty means a sense of obligation or dedication to a cause larger than one's self.

ie - if i were in the peace corps it would have been my "duty" to help people in need and promote intercultural understanding through peaceful initiatives and projects.

as a flight instructor - it is my duty to see that my student receives the best possible training that i am capable of providing.

onelifecrisis · 06-10-09, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Duty to me and many i know does not mean "follows orders without regard to personal morality" - duty means a sense of obligation or dedication to a cause larger than one's self.

And what is that cause?

GoldenRivet · 06-10-09, 09:59 AM

the soldier's "cause"... it could be many things.

from saving a small farming community from natural disaster, to seeing through the conclusion of the second world war and the liberation of Eurpope, it could be defending the home shores from foriegn invasion, or entering a dangerous area to evacuate the stranded, sick, or wounded in need of help who cannot help themselves (picture elderly or sick stranded on a volcanic island, or those who are displaced after a hurricaine or tsunami).

point being... the mission scope of a soldier is multifaceted... soldiers do not always carry rifles, and their mission is not always to kill, it is often to serve, protect and rescue etc.

the Merc and the Assassin are not paid to perform these services, only to kill.

onelifecrisis · 06-10-09, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

the soldier's "cause"... it could be many things.

from saving a small farming community from natural disaster, to seeing through the conclusion of the second world war and the liberation of Eurpope, it could be defending the home shores from foriegn invasion, or entering a dangerous area to evacuate the stranded, sick, or wounded in need of help who cannot help themselves (picture elderly or sick stranded on a volcanic island, or those who are displaced after a hurricaine or tsunami).

Okay, in respect for your not rising to my previous comments I'll temper my response to this bit... but I must say that IMO that is an unrealistically romantic vision of what a soldier really is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

point being... the mission scope of a soldier is multifaceted... soldiers do not always carry rifles, and their mission is not always to kill, it is often to serve, protect and rescue etc.

the Merc and the Assassin are not paid to perform these services, only to kill.

Fair point, and I should think (I certainly hope) that most soldiers prefer the work that doesn't involve killing. But still, for me, I'd have real difficulty signing on the dotted line of a contract which said:

In this job you will, hopefully, spend most of your time helping the helpless and assisting old ladies off the top of volcanoes (and we'll take pictures of you doing it) but every now and then we'll tell you to kill people and you'll have to do it, okay?

I'm not sure I could sign that.

GoldenRivet · 06-10-09, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

I'm not sure I could sign that.

soldiering ain't for everybody

but one day if a dictator shows knocking on the door of your nation, killing your civil populous - you will be glad there was someone who did sign that line.

of course that already happened to your country and mine

onelifecrisis · 06-10-09, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

soldiering ain't for everybody

but one day if a dictator shows knocking on the door of your nation, killing your civil populous - you will be glad there was someone who did sign that line.

of course that already happened to your country and mine

Indeed. As you Americans might say:
Ain't that a b!tch.

GoldenRivet · 06-10-09, 10:27 AM

always is a b*tch when that happens :rotfl:

so... have we established that there is at least a notable difference between a soldier, and the merc/assassin?

hope so!

i have to go to work for the rest of the day!

(where i hope to not kill anyone)

roman2440 · 06-10-09, 10:58 AM

Most of you guys have it all wrong.

I'll start with the distinction between soldier and merc. The difference comes solely from the origination of the service.

Soldiers are drawn into a service, trained, equipped, housed, and otherwise taken care of. There generally isn't any requirements beyond simple physical requirements made of the people joining up. The government provides training and equips the soldiers in most cases. There is an expectation that to muster a new unit of soldiers requires some lead time to prepare the soldiers and to train.

Mercs are paid to perform their tasks. Generally the paying entity (i.e. the government) doesn't provide a whole lot other than the pay and orders. Sometimes they'll provide transportation, sometimes some housing, but usually the bulk of what it takes to build a fighting unit is put upon those they are hiring. Meaning that the government generally doesn't pay for training, doesn't pay for most of the equipment, etc... In most cases, mercs are 'purchased' ready to go, or very near ready to go - very little prep time/training time is allotted for.

Once a soldier or a merc is brought on board, there is little/no difference between them. They both can do the same tasks. They both can kill, they both can decide to care about an issue or not.

The only other real difference I guess is what happens when a particular member decides to retire - as a soldier generally they are taken care of by the state, whereas as a merc the outfit has to take care of them (if it all).

Assassins on the other hand are different, and could be a subset of either group. Assassins are defined simply as someone whos sole job is to kill other individuals without regard to any other conflict related tasks (such as holding ground). An assassin can be a soldier or a merc - all that depends on is whether they are trained and equipped by the country or the unit/themselves.

06-10-09, 09:59 AM	#3
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	the soldier's "cause"... it could be many things. from saving a small farming community from natural disaster, to seeing through the conclusion of the second world war and the liberation of Eurpope, it could be defending the home shores from foriegn invasion, or entering a dangerous area to evacuate the stranded, sick, or wounded in need of help who cannot help themselves (picture elderly or sick stranded on a volcanic island, or those who are displaced after a hurricaine or tsunami). point being... the mission scope of a soldier is multifaceted... soldiers do not always carry rifles, and their mission is not always to kill, it is often to serve, protect and rescue etc. the Merc and the Assassin are not paid to perform these services, only to kill. __________________

06-10-09, 10:27 AM	#7
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	always is a b*tch when that happens :rotfl: so... have we established that there is at least a notable difference between a soldier, and the merc/assassin? hope so! i have to go to work for the rest of the day! (where i hope to not kill anyone) __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-10-09, 10:58 AM	#8
roman2440 Seaman Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Most of you guys have it all wrong. I'll start with the distinction between soldier and merc. The difference comes solely from the origination of the service. Soldiers are drawn into a service, trained, equipped, housed, and otherwise taken care of. There generally isn't any requirements beyond simple physical requirements made of the people joining up. The government provides training and equips the soldiers in most cases. There is an expectation that to muster a new unit of soldiers requires some lead time to prepare the soldiers and to train. Mercs are paid to perform their tasks. Generally the paying entity (i.e. the government) doesn't provide a whole lot other than the pay and orders. Sometimes they'll provide transportation, sometimes some housing, but usually the bulk of what it takes to build a fighting unit is put upon those they are hiring. Meaning that the government generally doesn't pay for training, doesn't pay for most of the equipment, etc... In most cases, mercs are 'purchased' ready to go, or very near ready to go - very little prep time/training time is allotted for. Once a soldier or a merc is brought on board, there is little/no difference between them. They both can do the same tasks. They both can kill, they both can decide to care about an issue or not. The only other real difference I guess is what happens when a particular member decides to retire - as a soldier generally they are taken care of by the state, whereas as a merc the outfit has to take care of them (if it all). Assassins on the other hand are different, and could be a subset of either group. Assassins are defined simply as someone whos sole job is to kill other individuals without regard to any other conflict related tasks (such as holding ground). An assassin can be a soldier or a merc - all that depends on is whether they are trained and equipped by the country or the unit/themselves.