Willing troops accompanying sailor in the drink (8)
I believe the answer is:
amenable
'willing' is the definition.
('amenable' can be a synonym of 'willing')
'troops accompanying sailor in the drink' is the wordplay.
'troops' becomes 'men' (I've seen this in other clues).
'accompanying sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman. I am not sure about the 'accompanying' bit.**).
'in the' is an insertion indicator.
'drink' becomes 'ale' (ale is a kind of drink).
'men'+'ab'='menab'
'menab' placed within 'ale' is 'AMENABLE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amenable that I've seen before include "Friendly" , "Pliant" , "Open and responsive to suggestion" , "Nameable as being willing to be controlled" , "Prepared to fall in with others' plans" .)