diff --git a/Tactical/Merc Hiring.cpp b/Tactical/Merc Hiring.cpp
index 5cdb9f00d..9cc5525b8 100644
--- a/Tactical/Merc Hiring.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Merc Hiring.cpp	
@@ -211,18 +211,18 @@ INT8 HireMerc( MERC_HIRE_STRUCT *pHireMerc)
 			// make an objecttype
 			CreateItem(LETTER, 100, &gTempObject);
 			// Give it
-			fReturn = AutoPlaceObject( MercPtrs[iNewIndex], &gTempObject, FALSE );
+			fReturn = AutoPlaceObject( iNewIndex, &gTempObject, FALSE );
 			// CHRISL: This condition should resolve the issue of the letter not being issued to the first merc
 			if(!fReturn)
 			{
 				if (UsingNewInventorySystem())
 				{
-					(MercPtrs[iNewIndex]->inv[NUM_INV_SLOTS-1]) = gTempObject;
+					(iNewIndex->inv[NUM_INV_SLOTS-1]) = gTempObject;
 					fReturn=TRUE;
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					(MercPtrs[iNewIndex]->inv[SMALLPOCK8POS]) = gTempObject;
+					(iNewIndex->inv[SMALLPOCK8POS]) = gTempObject;
 					fReturn = TRUE;
 				}
 			}
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ INT8 HireMerc( MERC_HIRE_STRUCT *pHireMerc)
 	//record how long the merc will be gone for
 	pMerc->bMercStatus = (UINT8)pHireMerc->iTotalContractLength;
 
-	pSoldier = &Menptr[iNewIndex];
+	pSoldier = iNewIndex;
 
 	//Copy over insertion data....
 	pSoldier->ubStrategicInsertionCode = pHireMerc->ubInsertionCode;