Soldier pile walls may consist of preformed elements installed into pre-drilled holes and backfilled with stabilised sand, or alternatively bored-reinforced concrete cast-in-place piles. In either case, soldier piles are positioned at approximately 2.4 metre spacing and in-situ sprayed concrete infill panels or other forms of lagging are subsequently installed. Soldiers may be cantilevered, but are generally restrained by soil anchors, which are progressively installed along with the infill lagging, as the excavation proceeds.

Where soldiers are required to carry a vertical load, either from the permanent structure, or vertical load component from the ground anchor, the toes of the soldiers are embedded in a concrete socket.

Stabilised sand backfill ensures the soldiers remain positioned and transfers load between the soldier and retained soil.