Crossword Genius

Trainee soldier, a rotter, meets an alien (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cadet

'trainee soldier' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a rotter meets an alien' is the wordplay.
'a rotter' becomes 'cad' (a cad is a dishonourable person).
'meets' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'an alien' becomes 'ET' (extra terrestrial).
'cad'+'et'='CADET'

(Other definitions for cadet that I've seen before include "not the heir" , "Trainee -- acted (anag)" , "Trainee cop" , "Police force trainee" , "recruit" .)

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