If you’re introducing a military hiring initiative, first off, congratulations. You’re not just ticking a D&I box. You’re tapping into some of the best talent the UK has to offer.
But if you don’t know your Lance Corporals from your Lieutenant Colonels, or what a Warrant Officer actually does, you’re going to struggle to spot what makes these candidates valuable. Understanding the structure of the UK armed forces will make your job easier.
Why it matters
When you understand military ranks and terminology:
You can benchmark CVs properly (what does “commanded 120 personnel” actually mean?)
You’ll ask smarter interview questions
And you’ll show veterans that your business isn’t just paying lip service to service leavers
Here’s the fast-track guide to getting clued up.
The Four UK Armed Forces Branches
Each has its own structure, but they all break down into three main groups:
Private soldiers
Non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
Commissioned officers
Ranks and Roles
Private Soldiers
These are your junior ranks. They’re the ones who’ve just joined. Think boots on the ground, learning the ropes.
Tasks include:
Following orders
Maintaining equipment
Completing basic training
Gaining experience to move up the ranks
Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)
These are experienced soldiers who’ve worked their way up. They lead teams, train junior personnel, and execute operations on the ground.
Junior NCOs
Lance Corporal
Corporal
These are the ones leading small teams, often the first step into leadership. They’ve proved themselves reliable, capable, and sharp under pressure.
Senior NCOs
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant / Colour Sergeant
Sergeant Major
Responsible for discipline, team cohesion, and operational delivery. They are the backbone of the armed forces. If you want someone who gets things done without faff, start here.
Warrant Officers
Warrant Officer Class 2
Warrant Officer Class 1
Highest-ranking NCOs. Trusted advisors to senior officers, and often in charge of discipline, standards, and training. In corporate speak? Think senior operational managers who get overlooked by people who’ve never worn a uniform.
Commissioned Officers
These are your strategists and senior leaders. Commissioned through a formal selection process and extensive training, they hold legal authority to lead.
Junior Officers
Second Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Captain
Leading platoons, responsible for anywhere between 30–100 people. Early-stage leadership, but often under serious pressure. These roles translate well into project management, operations, and team leadership.
Senior Officers
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Colonel
Think heads of departments or regional leads. Strategic responsibility, budget ownership, planning large-scale operations. These folks have had high-level leadership accountability before they hit 35.
General Officers
Brigadier
Major General
Lieutenant General
General
Field Marshal (mostly ceremonial now)
The top brass. Strategic vision, national-level operations, multi-national coordination. If a general applies to your company, roll out the carpet.
Common Military Terminology to Know
Rank – Someone’s level of authority within the chain of command
Deployment – A mission or assignment, often overseas
Basic Training – Where it all begins. Discipline, weapons, fieldcraft, and fitness
Chain of Command – The structure of who reports to whom
Unit – A group under one commander
Formation – Multiple units trained and operating together
Operation – A defined mission
Exercise – A training simulation
Medals and Decorations – Awards for performance, bravery, and service
Why this matters for your hiring strategy
Veterans aren’t just on time and polite. They’ve managed logistics under pressure, led international teams, and been through the kind of evaluation systems most civilian employers would run a mile from.
When you understand the armed services definition, how military roles align with civilian jobs, and how to read a service record properly, you’ll:
Make better hiring decisions
Unlock brilliant ex-military employment potential
Avoid awkward interviews where no one knows what a "Regimental Sergeant Major" does
