Danny Spangler Jr., age 15, of Vancouver, Wash., for his question:

WHAT ARE MERCENARIES?

Mercenaries are soldiers who receive pay for their services, especially as distinguished from soldiers who owe military service to their nation.

Historically, mercenaries were often foreigners rather than citizens or even residents of the nation for which they fought. The name has now come to mean only foreign auxiliaries.

In the American Revolution Great Britain used Hessian mercenaries to fight against the colonists. The use of mercenaries ended in Europe for the most part with the French Revolution, when their place was taken by national standing armies.

The Foreign Legion has existed as a mercenary unit in the French Army since 1831. Frenchmen are forbidden to join the Legion, but some enlist by giving false nationalities. Members sign up for five year stints and must be between the ages of 18 and 40.

During this century foreign mercenaries have been employed by some third world governments, especially those in Africa.