ogilvie joined the volunteer force, probably as a member of the aberdeenshire engineer volunteers, in 1878. he was commissioned lieutenant in the 1st aberdeenshire engineer volunteer corps on 12 may 1883, before being appointed and promoted captain, to do duty with the forth division, volunteer submarine miners - a unit which he raised and commanded for many years - with effect from 2 april 1887. he was promoted to major on 31 march 1888.