Business is booming for a growing army of private military contractors, who take their military training and offer it to the highest bidder

Modern-day mercenaries are stationed throughout the world fighting conflicts for governments that are reluctant to use their own troops.

While an army of 5,000 heavily-armed contractors recently replaced official American forces in Iraq, and many more have been recruited to protect private interests in the region, mercenaries are sent to many places that may surprise you.