To the OP

I'm sorry, you have such great motivation towards seeing things that are not which they seem but your timing and placement is way way way off to the point that I wouldn't mind slapping you -respectfully of course- to snap you out of it.

FT Bragg, one of the biggest military installations in the US if not the world, and is so close to Raleigh you could throw a rock from one to the other. So seeing some cannons on the back of flatbeds driving around is NOTHING out of the ordinary in that area. Seriously.

ALSO

Seeing a bunch of soldiers - NOT MERCENARIES - driving around in white 15-pax vans is also NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY. Big white vans often called "TMP" Vans are used to transport troops when it's impractical to use military trucks like LMTVs , HUMVEEs and 5 tons. For example if troops were going TDY for a little while and staying in a hotel or something it makes more sense for them to use a big civilian van rather than a big ass military style vehicle.

Mercenaries aka Contractors are ex-mil types and generally don't like to keep their traditional military appearance because they are finally 'free' from the military. You'll often find them with big ass sideburns, beards, etc.

The military in general is very active in recent years. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON to see units on trains being sent to ship yards to rotate overseas, it is NOT UNCOMMON to see big troop convoys driving to and from training locations. There are many places to train that are not just on military posts .

I am all about weird unexplainable things going on in this day and age but I get so sick of hearing you guys freak out when you see some military trucks driving around the street. Do some homework, ask some questions before you just spouting off asinine theories. Seriously.