Soldiers will cut duty and get rid of spirit (8)
I believe the answer is:
exorcise
'rid of spirit' is the definition.
I know that 'spirit' relates to this answer. I also know that both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form
'soldiers will cut duty' is the wordplay.
'soldiers' becomes 'OR' (Other Ranks).
'will cut' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters cut their way in).
'duty' becomes 'excise' (both can mean a tax).
'or' inserted within 'excise' is 'EXORCISE'.
'and get' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exorcise that I've seen before include "Drive out evil spirit by prayer" , "Remove spirits" , "getting cast out" , "Expel evil spirit" , "drive away" .)