Officer vs Soldier 

Officer and Soldier: what is the difference?
‘Soldier’ is a specific term, different to ‘officer’. It all comes down to rank and responsibility – officers have higher ranks than soldiers, and more responsibility for leadership and decision-making. Soldiers work to put those decisions into effect. Both are very important to the Army, and their roles have much in common.

Are officers leaders and soldiers just there to be led?
Officers do lead soldiers, but experienced soldiers can lead groups of soldiers as well. These are called ‘non-commissioned officers’, or NCOs for short. They have reached a rank (from Lance Corporal upwards) that means they have the experience and skills needed to play a leadership role.

Can soldiers get leadership training as well as officers?
Yes. Regular and Territorial officers complete extensive leadership training, and both will attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where the Army develops its future leaders. Soldiers don’t go to Sandhurst, but if they show the potential to become leaders they do another leadership course called the Command, Leadership and Management programme. Like officer training, it can lead to recognised management qualifications.

Do officers have better promotion prospects than soldiers?
No. How individual officers and soldiers rise through the ranks is down to how well they demonstrate their talent. Officers, though, start at a higher rank than soldiers. Both officers and soldiers enjoy excellent promotion prospects, with good rates of pay and benefits.

Do officers get to travel more?

There’s no reason they should. Both officers and soldiers get to see a lot of the world, be it on operations, training or postings abroad. And both officers and soldiers enjoy opportunities for adventurous training overseas, throughout their careers.

Can soldiers ever become officers?
Yes. 
Many young soldiers are spotted by their commanding officer as having good leadership potential, and they are then sent to Sandhurst to train as officers. Other soldiers move right up through the ranks during their Army career and can be selected for what is called a ‘late entry commission’. These soldiers, who tend to be very experienced, complete a four-week course at Sandhurst and are then promoted to the officer rank of Captain.

Do you have to have gone to university to become an officer?
Not necessarily. Not all graduates are good leaders and not all good leaders go to university. Most good leaders tend to be smart, however, and in reality, about 80% of recruits training to be officers at Sandhurst are university graduates.

So which do I choose, officer or soldier?
That is down to the sort of person you are, what you want to get out of an Army career and what your talents are. You may see yourself making decisions and taking responsibility, and feel that officer training is the best way to fulfill your leadership potential. On the other hand, you might be keen on pursuing a particular career in the Army, perhaps a specialist trade such as mechanic or engineer, and find joining as a soldier makes more sense.

The fact is, whichever route into the Army you take – officer or soldier – opportunities will come your way and your potential will be recognised. The British Army of the 21st century is more interested in good leadership skills than labels or stereotypes.

It’s not an easy decision. An Army Careers Adviser will be able to give you plenty of advice and chat to you about what you enjoy doing and what your interests are, as well as answer all your questions about the Army. So why not talk it over with someone who has first-hand experience – then you'll be able to make a wiser, more informed choice