Soldier piles are a popular Support of Excavation (SOE) system that control the excavation cut by safely retaining the adjacent ground. Soldier piles prevent the ground from sloughing or caving in. This not only protects workers down in the excavation; but also nearby houses, sidewalks and other structures on the high side of the excavation. Soldier piles usually consist of vertical steel pipes that are placed at regular intervals down into predrilled holes and grouted into place. As the excavation progresses in stages horizontal wood lagging is added behind the piles and acts as a secure retaining wall holding all soil and structures on the high side of the excavation safely in place.