Soldier, like this, taking it to be exploitative (9)
I believe the answer is:
parasitic
'exploitative' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'soldier like this taking it' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'soldier' could be 'para' (paratrooper) and 'para' is present in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to be' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for parasitic that I've seen before include "Living off another organism" , "hanging on?" , "Such threats" , "like a leech" , "Sponging" .)