Joining the British Army as a soldier

To join the British Army as a soldier, you apply online, complete a medical and fitness preparation stage, then attend an assessment centre where you sit aptitude tests, physical tests and an interview. If you pass, you are offered a role and a start date for phase 1 basic training, followed by phase 2 training in your trade. New-entrant soldiers start on £27,282 a year after the 3.6% armed forces pay rise backdated to 1 April 2026, as reported by the Forces Pension Society.

Who can join

The Army sets eligibility rules on age, nationality, residence, medical fitness and criminal convictions. Junior entry exists for school leavers, with a separate training route, and the upper age limit for regular soldiers varies by role. British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens can apply, subject to residence requirements, and some roles are restricted on nationality grounds because of security clearance. The Army’s own recruitment site gives the current limits for each role, and they change from time to time.

Medical standards are strict. Conditions such as asthma, some skin conditions, previous injuries or mental health history may need medical records and specialist review. Declaring everything at the start saves time, because records are checked anyway. Convictions are assessed too. Some will bar you for a period or permanently and others will not, depending on the offence and how long ago it was, and the recruiter can explain how a particular conviction is treated.

The application and assessment

The usual sequence is:

1. Online application, choosing preferred roles.
2. Medical questionnaire and permission for the Army to see your GP records.
3. Contact with a recruiter, who helps you prepare and books your assessment.
4. Assessment centre, usually with an overnight stay, covering a medical, fitness tests, aptitude tests and an interview.
5. Offer of a role and a training start date.

The fitness tests at assessment have included a run, a medicine ball throw and a lift test. The aptitude test (the British Army Recruit Battery) measures reasoning and problem solving, and your score affects which roles you are eligible for. Technical roles may have further tests. The Army publishes preparation guidance, and training for the run in particular is worth starting well before the assessment date.

Waiting time between application and training varies. Medical reviews and security checks are the usual causes of delay.

Phase 1: basic training

Phase 1 teaches you to be a soldier: drill, fieldcraft, weapon handling, first aid, physical training and living as part of a section. Adult recruits train at the Army Training Centre Pirbright or the Army Training Regiment Winchester, and junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College Harrogate. Infantry recruits complete a combined course at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, which merges phase 1 and phase 2.

The course is physically and mentally demanding, with long days, little personal time at the start and close supervision. Recruits who are injured may move to a recovery platoon until fit. You are paid during training.

Phase 2: trade training

After phase 1, you go to the training school for your role: for example, engineering at the Royal School of Military Engineering, logistics with the Royal Logistic Corps, or medical training for combat medical technicians. Length depends on the trade, from weeks to many months. Many trades lead to civilian qualifications or apprenticeships alongside military skills.

Life in a unit varies a great deal by role. Infantry and other combat arms spend much of their time on exercise and fitness training, while technical and support trades work in workshops, offices or medical facilities with routines closer to a civilian job. Most soldiers live on or near their base, at least at first, and can expect postings to different locations in the UK and overseas during their career. Operational deployments and long exercises mean time away from family.

After phase 2 you join your regiment or unit, and your career continues with promotion courses and further training.

Pay and pension

The Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body recommended a 3.6% increase for 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026. Reported new-entrant starting pay is £27,282 for other ranks and £35,926 for junior officers. These figures come from secondary reporting by the Forces Pension Society, and the MOD’s own pay tables are the definitive source. Pay rises with rank and with increments for time served, and some roles attract additional pay for specialist skills. Armed forces pay covers rank scales in more detail, and the take-home pay calculator shows a new recruit’s monthly pay after tax and National Insurance.

Regular soldiers are in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, which is non-contributory, so no pension contribution comes out of your pay. Accommodation and food are charged at subsidised rates and deducted from pay.

Reserves and other services

The Army Reserve recruits part-time soldiers who train on evenings and weekends and are paid for the days they serve. Selection is similar, with a shorter training course spread over weekends.

If another service fits you better, compare joining the Royal Navy and joining the RAF. MOD civilian jobs covers the Ministry of Defence’s civil service roles for defence work without a uniform.