Any Questions?

Want to know something about the army? Ask us anything and we'll give you a straight answer.

Tough Questions

Do soldiers living overseas get paid more?
Your basic pay depends on rank and trade qualifications and remains the same if you're serving overseas. However, due to the difference in the cost of living in some countries you may get an extra allowance to offset extra costs.
How often do I train in the TA?
In most Territorial Army units you train for about three hours, one night a week. In addition you complete one weekend a month and participate in an annual two-week camp for basic training which takes place in the UK or overseas. National Territorial units do not train on weekday evenings.
What's my commitment to the TA?
Soldiers sign up for a minimum of 12 years, while officers sign up until the age of 60. However, both have options to resign during this contract, provided they are not scheduled to deploy on operations.

Territorial Army (TA)

Pay
As a member of the TA, you will receive base pay equivalent to that of the Regular Army, which varies according to rank, role and commitment. Pay starts at £34.41 per day. You are also paid for every one-quarter day of training you do, your travel to and from the TA Centre or place of duty, your meals when on duty and your standard uniform. If you complete your minimum commitment, you receive an annual tax-free bonus called a Training Bounty which can be as much as £1,600 in just five years. The TA pay for rates are shown below.

TA RATES OF PAY, BOUNTIES AND EXPENSES - APRIL 2010


OFFICERS	DAILY RATES OF PAY
OFFICERS	FROM	TO
Officer Cadet (OTC)	£39.27	£49.00
Officer Cadet (non-graduate)	£39.27	n/a
Second Lieutenant/Officer Cadet (graduate)	£62.07	n/a
Lieutenant	£74.61	£82.47
Captain	£95.61	£113.21
Major	£120.44	£144.24
Lieutenant Colonel	£169.03	£195.73
Colonel	£205.04	£225.46
Brigadier	£244.68	£254.60


SOLDIERS	Level	LOWER BAND	TO
New entrant		£34.41	n/a
Private*	1	£42.91	£56.38
Lance Corporal*	5	£51.90	£61.10
Corporal*	1	£66.58	£75.25
Sergeant	1	£75.68	£86.02
Staff Sergeant	1	£83.78	£96.47
Warrant Officer 2	5	£90.90	£99.93
Warrant Officer 1	1	£97.34	£111.26

_{*or equivalent rank. N.B. - Pay is subject to the deduction of tax and National Insurance contributions, which under certain circumstances may be reclaimed.}

Training Bounty
If you complete your minimum commitment, you receive an annual tax-free bonus called a Training Bounty which can be as much as £1,600 in just five years. These rates are shown below.

BOUNTIES (TAX-FREE)
Group A - Higher Commitment
1st Year	£424
2nd Year	£934
3rd and 4th Year	£1,443
5th and subsequent years	£1,674
Group A - Lower Commitment
1st Year
2nd Year	£515
3rd and 4th Year	£800
5th and subsequent year	£934
Group B - Officers, Officer Cadets
1st Year	£146
2nd Year	£169
3rd and 4th Year	£205
5th and subsequent year	£205
Call-out gratuity
	£509

Full-time & Part-time reservists are not eligible for Training Bounty by virtue of the nature of their duties.
*Officers and Soldiers who are allowed to complete the lower training obligation under the terms of TA Regulations para 2.036.
Excludes Non Regular Permanent Staff Officers and Soldiers.

As well as the immediate financial benefits, you can also develop your skills and CV in the TA. You can gain diplomas, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), first aid certificates, a driving licences and membership of professional bodies.

Allowances
In addition to your bounty, as a member of the TA you will receive one quarter of your day pay for each training night attended. All your travel expenses to and from the TA centre or other place of duty may also be paid for.

Providing your training or duty meets the allowance criteria, you may also be entitled to many of the allowances that your Regular counterparts receive. If you are mobilised then you will receive all of the allowances a Regular soldier is entitled to.