Crossword Genius

Soldiers ordered to carry old naval gear (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

brigade

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'ordered to carry old naval gear' is the wordplay.
'ordered' becomes 'bade' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to carry' indicates putting letters inside.
'old naval gear' becomes 'rig' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'bade' placed around 'rig' is 'BRIGADE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for brigade that I've seen before include "Military group" , "Set of troops" , "Body of troops" , "Corps" , "Rig a bed (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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