Soldier
Soldiers take part in peacekeeping missions, support disaster relief operations and fight in combat zones around the world.
Also known as: Army soldier, army non-commissioned officer (NCO), army reserve
- Starter salary£27,000 a year
- Experienced£51,000 a year
What you'll do
As a soldier, your duties will depend on your unit. You could:
- service and repair HGVs, Land Rovers, tanks and other armoured vehicles
- refuel and re-arm combat helicopters as part of an aviation groundcrew team
- set up communications links and conduct cyber warfare activities
- collect and analyse military intelligence to help plan operations
- support medical, veterinary or administrative services
- take part in training exercises, and humanitarian and combat operations
Working environment
You could work at a military base, be based overseas or in a warzone.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- physical fitness and endurance
- concentration skills and fast reactions
- active listening skills and the ability to follow instructions quickly
- the ability to work well with others in a team
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- thinking and reasoning skills and the confidence to act quickly
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a soldier
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
You can apply to join the army through an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You apply directly to the army to find the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in, for example, engineering, health or logistics.
Entry requirements
- entry requirements vary
Volunteering
You can join the Army Reserve to get experience of what life is like in the regular army. You'll also learn new skills at the same time.
You'll need to:
- be aged between 18 and 43
- commit to at least 27 days a year, though this can fall to 19, if you apply for a specialist unit
- attend a 2-week training camp each year
If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Army Cadet Force .
Direct application
You can apply directly to join the army . You do not need any specific qualifications unless you're applying for a technical role like engineering or communications.
You'll also need to be:
- aged between 16 and 36
- physically fit
If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local army careers centre about the opportunities available to you. You'll then attend a 2-day assessment, which includes medical and fitness tests.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- meet the British army nationality and residency rules
- pass a fitness test
- pass a medical check
- pass security checks
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
When you join the army, you sign up for 4 years. You can leave at any time after this as long as you give 12 months' notice. If you want to stay longer you can extend your contract.
Throughout your army career, you'll have the opportunity to gain qualifications in your chosen field. With experience you could move up through the ranks or into a specialist unit like the commandos or paratroopers. You could also train to become an officer.
You could apply to join the UK Special Forces as a Regular or a Reservist. Get information on how to join UK Special Forces Reserves .
You can move into a wide range of careers after leaving the army. You'll find details about support and opportunities from:
- Quest
- Career Transition Partnership
- Forces Employment Charity
- Get Into Teaching
Guides for this industry
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0