When someone reports how many servicemen and women are deployed, they only count military. They don't report the mercenaries. That also allows them to not report dead mercenaries as U.S. casualties.

I've seen occasional reports saying we've got more mercs over there than military, and they may have had more casualties, too.

Oh wait, we don't use the term "mercenaries" this year. They're "contractors". Same category as the guys working in the mess hall.