Crossword Genius

Baddy leading soldiers in military unit (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cadre

'military unit' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'baddy leading soldiers' is the wordplay.
'baddy' becomes 'cad' (a cad is a dishonourable person).
'leading' says to put letters next to each other (some letters go in front of others).
'soldiers' becomes 're' (Royal Engineers).
'cad'+'re'='CADRE'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for cadre that I've seen before include "Core group -- cared (anag)" , "Group of key personnel" , "Political group" , "Fighting unit" , "Nucleus, framework" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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