In the real world a lot of army is conscription. Typically it not freelance mercenaries it can also be prisoners or threatened/coereced labour. Star wars actual

In the real world a lot of army is conscription. Typically it not freelance mercenaries it can also be prisoners or threatened/coereced labour. Star wars actually highlights this in Rogue one. Also in many economies this is literally only job available, same reason why syrian fighters are ready to go to Ukraine. While death star attack wasn't a war crime, they weren't civies after all, it wasn't a simple as they knew the dangers