Soldier

"Sometimes being a good soldier means doing what you think is right."

- Argyus

A soldier, also referred to as a warrior, was a being who fought, usually in an army or navy, in defense of an organization, government, or ideal. Soldiers were well trained and organized to fight and some were in elite units or special forces. Soldiers were generally the front-line fighters while officers served as commanders and strategists.

The Galactic Republic was protected for centuries by the Jedi Order who served as peacekeepers but maintained they were not soldiers. The Republic was also protected by the Judicial Forces, while the Galactic Senate on Coruscant was protected by the Senate Guard and its elite Commandos. Member worlds like Naboo and Mon Cala typically had their own armies, such as the Royal Naboo Security Forces, Gungan Grand Army or Mon Calamari Guard.

With the eruption of the Clone Wars, the Republic formed the Grand Army composed of clone troopers considered the greatest soldiers in galactic history. They fought against the Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. While the Separatists notably used battle droids instead of flesh and blood soldiers, there were occasions where organic troops were deployed, such as the use of Geonosians during the First and Second battles of Geonosis. After the war, the new Galactic Empire used the clones as the basis for the the Imperial stormtroopers who served as elite soldiers and shock troops, a practice continued by the First Order. The Galactic Empire also made use of elite soldiers selected from the Stormtrooper Corps called death troopers, which were used to guard high-placed Imperial officers.

The Alliance to Restore the Republic had Rebel troopers who were its ground forces fighting against the Empire. The New Republic had a standing army, but its decision to ignore the First Order meant the Resistance had to rely on lightly-armored troopers like its predecessor.