"Citizen soldiers" are young people with limited employment prospects who can't afford full-time college life and who enlisted for a second part-time income, and for eductional benefits, in exchange for one weekend per month plus two weeks each summer.

I can't imagine that many of them forsaw full-time active duty in a combat zone. They certainly didn't sign up to make their livings as mercenaries.

When I saw the title of this thread, my first thought was about how private corporations (e.g., Halliburton) have taken over many combat-support functions formerly provided by military personnel ~ quartermaster (supplies), mess (food service), motor pool (trucking/transporation) etc. This new practice certainly decreases the number of enlisted personnel required to conduct warfare; of course, the corporate imperative to operate at a profit can only add to the taxpayers' costs. Not to mention the potential for corruption and worse (e.g., failure to adequately protect the lives and limbs of soldiers in combat, which is likely to be "unacceptably" expensive).