Army vs. Soldier

Main Difference

The main difference between Army and Soldier is that the Army is a military branch of service primarily focused on ground warfare and Soldier is a one who fights as part of an organized armed force.

• Army

  An army (from Latin arma “arms, weapons” via Old French armée, “armed” (feminine)) or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or state. It may also include aviation assets by possessing an army aviation component. In certain states, the term army refers to the entire armed forces (e.g., People’s Liberation Army). Within a national military force, the word army may also mean a field army.

  In several countries, the army is officially called the Land Army to differentiate it from an air force called the Air Army, notably France. In such countries, the word “army” on its own retains its connotation of a land force in common usage. The current largest army in the world, by number of active troops, is the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force of China with 1,600,000 active troops and 510,000 reserve personnel followed by the Indian Army with 1,129,000 active troops and 960,000 reserve personnel.

  By convention, irregular military is understood in contrast to regular armies which grew slowly from personal bodyguards or elite militia. Regular in this case refers to standardized doctrines, uniforms, organizations, etc. Regular military can also refer to full-time status (standing army), versus reserve or part-time personnel. Other distinctions may separate statutory forces (established under laws such as the National Defence Act), from de facto “non-statutory” forces such as some guerrilla and revolutionary armies. Armies may also be expeditionary (designed for overseas or international deployment) or fencible (designed for – or restricted to – homeland defence)

• Soldier

  A soldier is one who fights as part of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer.