(n.) The body of persons employed in a company\ or some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; -- distinguished from materiel.

agent alternate alternative analogy backup change changeling comparison copy counterfeit crew deputy double dummy employees equal equivalent ersatz exchange fake fighting force fill-in firepower force forces gang ghost ghostwriter hands help hired help imitation locum tenens makeshift men metaphor metonymy next best thing phony pinch hitter proxy relief replacement representative reserves retinue ringer second string secondary servantry sign spares staff stand-in sub substituent substitute substitution succedaneum superseder supplanter surrogate symbol synecdoche the big battalions the help third string token troops understudy units utility player vicar vice-president vice-regent work force